Oral Answers to Questions — Housing – in the House of Commons at on 25 March 1943.
Mr Walter Higgs
, Birmingham West
asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that men who are serving in the Forces and have let their houses on an annual tenancy or for a short term of years are unable to regain possession after the expiration of the period on the ground that the houses are controlled under the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act; and will he consider introducing legislation so that the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act does not apply in such cases?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
No, Sir. I would, however point out that under Section 3 of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions (Amendment) Act, 1933, and Section 3 of the Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1939, an owner can obtain from the court an order for possession of his house for occupation as a residence for himself without proof of alternative accommodation, unless the court is satisfied that greater hardship would be caused by granting the order than by refusing to grant it. If my hon. Friend has any cases of special difficulty in mind, perhaps he would send me particulars.
Mr Walter Higgs
, Birmingham West
Does the Minister consider that those men who have been serving overseas, and have often gone voluntarily to serve, are at a disadvantage compared with the men who stayed at home, and would he not give first consideration to them?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
I should be very glad to do anything for their advantage, but I do not see that any special difficulty arises under the present law. If my hon. Friend has any information on the point, I should be glad to have it.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
