Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Defence. – in the House of Commons at on 16 October 1941.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
asked the Minister of Pensions how many persons in Nottingham and the surrounding district have written to him demanding equal compensation for men and women civilians injured owing to enemy action?
Mr Walter Womersley
, Grimsby
Correspondence reaching the Ministry is not classified according to the place of origin and the only communication which I am able to trace is a copy of a resolution passed by the Nottingham branch of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
In view of the fact that I have heard from a responsible woman that the Minister has had 1,200 letters and postcards, I find it difficult to understand his answer. As he has had representations from all over the country, does he not think it would be more in accord with our democratic principles for him to reconsider this matter?
Mr Walter Womersley
, Grimsby
I have nothing to add to the full statement I made in the Debate on this matter.
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.
