Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Industry. – in the House of Commons at on 8 April 1941.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
asked the Secretary for Mines the approximate number of coal-miners who have joined the Services, after deducting the numbers who have been released to return to the mines, to date?
Mr David Grenfell
, Gower
Since July, 1939, about 62,000 insured workers in the coal-mining industry, including Territorials, have joined His Majesty's Forces either voluntarily or under the Acts. Exact information as to the number that have been released is not available, but I understand that it has been comparatively small.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Is the calling-up of coal-miners a matter in which the hon. Gentleman is consulted, and is the age of reservation fixed by the Minister of Labour, or is the Minister of Mines taken into consultation?
Mr David Grenfell
, Gower
There have been consultations, but I am not responsible for policy in this matter.
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.
