Oral Answers to Questions — Housing – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 March 1947.
Mr. Baker White:
asked the Minister of Works the present monthly output of breeze blocks; and what output is required to meet present housing needs.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
Breeze is only one of many types of aggregate which, when mixed with cement, forms concrete, and separate figures of the monthly output of breeze blocks are not available. Pre-cast concrete units, including breeze blocks, are alternatives to clay and terra cotta products, and it is, therefore, impossible to isolate the housing requirement for breeze blocks.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
In view of the urgent need for a large quantity of breeze blocks, will the Minister inquire into the case of Mr. Myron, an ex-Royal Air Force officer, who is making thousands of these blocks, and who has been given notice to quit? He has been put into an impossible position.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
If the hon. Gentleman will send me particulars of the case I will make the necessary inquiries.
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.
