Oral Answers to Questions — Education. – in the House of Commons at on 16 October 1941.
Sir Frederick Messer
, Tottenham South
asked the Minister of Health what has been the percentage increase in pulmonary tuberculosis during the war; in what age-groups the increase is most marked; and whether it is proposed to take any special steps to deal with this problem?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
On the basis of provisional mortality figures for the years 1939 and 1940, the rate in England and Wales for the population as a whole was 9.7 per cent. higher than in 3939, the highest rate being 15 per cent. among women between the ages of 15 and 25. In the first quarter of 1941 there was, however, a reduction of 7 per cent. for the population as a whole, and of 4 per cent. for women between the ages of 15 and 25. With the co-operation of the Medical Research Council, I have arranged for an expert investigation into the possible causes of increase. Everything possible is being done to maintain the tuberculosis service.
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.
