Oral Answers to Questions — National Insurance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 March 1947.
Mr James Griffiths
, Llanelly
These Regulations were drafted in accordance with the general practice under which only the main powers relating specifically to the subject matter of the Regulations are expressly cited. Neither the convenience of the reader nor the need for brevity would be as well served if the powers relied on which relate specifically to the subject matter of the Regulations were not distinguished from those of a supplementary nature.
Sir John Mellor
, Sutton Coldfield
Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that if he had cited in the Order all the powers mentioned in his answer last week, they could be included in one line?
Mr James Griffiths
, Llanelly
No, Sir, I do not think that is true.
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.
