Oral Answers to Questions — Housing – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 March 1947.
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
12:00,
3 March 1947
asked the Minister of Works whether, in view of the shortage of lead, he will encourage the use of wrought-iron piping with screw joints for housing work generally, seeing that it has proved satisfactory for 3o-storey and 40-storey skyscrapers.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
Yes, Sir. Recommendations for the use of alternatives to lead in building work were published by my Department some months ago. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
Is the Minister aware that wrought-iron is both quicker and cheaper and more efficient, and will he insist on it being used, instead of sending out recommendations which are not being carried out?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
We have issued full instructions to the people concerned with strong recommendations.
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
Is the Minister aware that they are not being carried out and that people are wasting time and money?
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.
