Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health – in the House of Commons at on 22 July 1943.
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
As my hon. Friend is aware, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service is, in consultation with me, taking measures with a view to relieving the present shortage of midwives. Following a recent registration, women with midwifery qualifications are being interviewed and those who are suitable are being submitted for employment where they are most urgently required. I understand that some assistance has already been given under these arrangements to the midwifery services in Gloucestershire, and the needs of this area will certainly be kept in mind. I hope that the publication of the Report of the Midwives Salaries Committee, about which I made a statement a few minutes ago, will help to encourage recruitment to the midwifery profession.
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.
