Oral Answers to Questions — National Insurance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 March 1947.
Mr Norman Bower
, Harrow West
12:00,
11 March 1947
asked the Minister of National Insurance if, in those cases in which dentists refused to accept dental letters issued by approved societies, owing to the dispute over the scale of fees, the persons concerned were consequently compelled to incur expenses in obtaining dental treatment, he will allow approved societies to refund the amount of such expenses.
Mr James Griffiths
, Llanelly
The arrangements for the provision of dental benefit are based on individual contracts entered into in accordance with statutory Regulations before the work is started. I have considered the hon. Member's suggestion, but, as he has already been advised by letter, I could not amend the Regulations to permit of payments in the circum stances contemplated without under mining the basis on which this benefit is administered. In any case such an Amendment of the Regulations could not have retrospective effect.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
