Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Armed Forces – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 March 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
12 March 1947
asked the Minister of Defence how many timber huts are still in possession of the three Service Departments at the latest available date; what is their condition; what is the reason for the delay in selling them; and if he will make a statement about a situation, details of which have been 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.
