Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 March 1947.
Mr John Mack
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
12:00,
11 March 1947
asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the manpower shortage, he proposes to take action to prevent the employment by the Co-operative Insurance Society and other offices of agents on blank books.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
No, Sir, I have no power to do this.
Mr John Mack
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Is my right hon. Friend aware that this use of manpower, which tends towards special arrangements, is frowned upon very much; surely his Department ought to have some power to give effect to that?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
Whether we should or should not have the power is another matter. At the present moment I have not the power.
Mr Stanley Tiffany
, Peterborough
Can the Minister explain exactly what is referred to in the Question as "blank books"?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I am afraid that is not for me to do.
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.
