Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply. – in the House of Commons at on 21 February 1940.
Mr Edward Burgin
, Luton
I understand that the facts are, very largely, as stated by the hon. Baronet. The public are aware that this is a matter of collection and segregation at the outset and then rapid disposal, and it is, as I have said, a very big problem. A great many more local authorities are now coming into the scheme. If local authorities will not do so, other powers must be sought, but that will be primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
