Oral Answers to Questions — Telephone Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 March 1947.
Sir Gifford Fox
, Henley
12:00,
19 March 1947
asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will consider putting the telephone kiosk in the Dorchester Post Office outside in the street instead of in the shop where it is only available to the public during office hours.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
There is already a telephone kiosk within 100 yards of the Post Office at Dorchester-on-Thames, and I regret, therefore, I am unable to accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.
Sir Gifford Fox
, Henley
Is the Minister aware that a number of these telephones in the post offices in these villages in Oxfordshire are unavailable, as they are closed for more than half the day, which causes great inconvenience to the public?
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
Yes, Sir, but the kiosk is close by outside, and is not closed.
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.
