Oral Answers to Questions — Mercantile Marine. – in the House of Commons at on 8 April 1941.
Mr Charles Ammon
, Camberwell North
asked the Minister of Shipping whether he can report on the result of his inquiries of the officers and representatives of the Merchant Navy as to the compulsory wearing of identification discs by members of the Merchant Navy?
Sir Ronald Cross
, Rossendale
I have now received the views of the representatives of the officers' and men's societies and in agreement with them have decided not to make it compulsory for all officers and men to wear identity discs, but to make arrangements for the supply of discs to those officers and men who desire them.
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.
