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Staff.

Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Information. – in the House of Commons at on 9 April 1941.

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Photo of Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid , St Marylebone

asked the Minister of Information what proportion of the executive staff of the Ministry of Information were previously civil servants in other Government Departments or former members of the legal profession?

Mr. Cooper:

I do not know what grades the hon. and gallant Member designates as executive. Of the 50 senior officers of the Ministry, 17 were previously civil servants in other Departments and 3 members of the legal profession.

Photo of Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid Captain Alec Cunningham-Reid , St Marylebone

Would it not be better if a greater proportion of the senior officers at the Ministry of Information consisted of those who have had long and successful training in the art of giving information in the right way, such as expert publicity men and first-class journalists?

Mr. Cooper:

A great many of the officials at the Ministry consist of those who have had training such as the hon. and gallant Member has suggested.

Minister

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.