Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Insurance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 March 1947.
Brigadier Christopher Peto
, Barnstaple
12:00,
4 March 1947
asked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware that hardship is being caused to thousands of old age pensioners through the failure of his Department to replace pension books which became out of date in December; and, in particular, what steps he is taking with regard to the case of Miss Moran of Braunton, Devon, which was recently brought to his notice.
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.
