Oral Answers to Questions — Government Departments. – in the House of Commons at on 15 October 1941.
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings how many regional officers for propaganda purposes his Ministry have decided to appoint; what will be their duties; what salaries it is proposed to pay; and how these officers will be selected?
Mr George Hicks
, Woolwich East
My Noble Friend is not yet in a position to make an announcement, but he hopes to do so shortly.
Mr Lewis Silkin
, Camberwell Peckham
In view of the fact that the announcement of the appointment of these officials was made by the Minister in Another place, and of the fact that the appointments are regarded by many as being totally unnecessary, will my hon. Friend give the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion before any appointments are made?
Mr George Hicks
, Woolwich East
I am quite willing to convey my hon. Friend's request to my Noble Friend.
During a debate members of the House of Commons traditionally refer to the House of Lords as 'another place' or 'the other place'.
Peers return the gesture when they speak of the Commons in the same way.
This arcane form of address is something the Labour Government has been reviewing as part of its programme to modernise the Houses of Parliament.
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.
