Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply. – in the House of Commons at on 9 April 1941.
Mr John Parker
, Romford
asked the Minister of Supply whether he is aware that wooden palings arc being put up to replace iron railings removed for scrap in many unnecessary cases, such as Leicester Square; and whether he will take action to prevent this waste of our timber supplies?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
A close watch is being kept by the Timber Control on such uses of timber. In the case referred to by the hon. Member it was considered necessary on police grounds that the Square should be fenced off, but the material used is cleft fencing produced from underwood.
Mr John Parker
, Romford
Is the Minister aware that Piccadilly, Manchester, a very similar square, was laid out before the war without any railings, and that they get on quite well without 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.
