Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Fuel and Power – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 July 1946.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Seaham
12:00,
23 July 1946
The accumulation of 15 wagons at Bromley South Station was brought about by the cancellation of hired transport owing to lack of coal supplies up to 8th July, followed by the unexpected arrival on the 9th July of eight wagons of coke in addition to normal coal supplies. By working over the week-end the wagon accumulation was cleared by the firm of coal merchants concerned. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, in answer to a similar Question.
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.
