Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 June 1945.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Chislehurst
12:00,
5 June 1945
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power the figures for the last year to the latest convenient date of the number of shifts worked in coalmines; and separate figures for voluntary absenteeism and absenteeism due to accident or sickness.
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.
