Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 March 1947.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
12:00,
11 March 1947
asked the Minister of Labour whether there is now any compulsion to join the National Union of Mineworkers exercised upon men who have been at any time directed into the mining industry and who are at present working in that industry.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I understand that in some few collieries by agreement between the management and the National Union of Mineworkers, it is a condition of employment that the workers should be members of the union. Where in the past a man was directed into employment in one of these collieries and was unwilling to join the union, it was necessary to transfer him to another colliery where this condition of employment did not apply.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
Would the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not abdicate his responsibility towards these men whom he has directed into this industry?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I will accept and discharge any responsibility which rests upon me.
Mr Stanley Awbery
, Bristol Central
Is not my right hon. Friend of the opinion that those men who do not join the union should not share the privileges, financial and otherwise, which are gained by the organisation?
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
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.
