Oral Answers to Questions — National War Effort. – in the House of Commons at on 16 October 1941.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Lewisham West
asked the Minister of Labour the total number of places for trainees in Government training centres; and the number of these places at present vacant?
Mr Ernest Bevin
, Wandsworth Central
It would not be in the national interest to publish the information asked for in this Question.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Lewisham West
Does not the Minister think it is essential for Members of the House of Commons to know the number of training places?
Mr Ernest Bevin
, Wandsworth Central
I gave an indication in the man-power Debate last week. As far as I am personally concerned—I cannot speak for the Government as a whole— if there were a Secret Session, there would be no difficulty in giving the information, which I cannot give in public.
Mr Robert Young
, Newton
Is my right hon. Friend aware that if Members were to visit these places they would find out for themselves how valuable they are?
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.
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
