Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 July 1947.
Mr Philip Piratin
, Stepney Mile End
12:00,
10 July 1947
asked the Minister of Labour how he accounts for the difference between the figure of 1,280,000, given by him on 1st July of the manpower in building and civil engineering, and the figure of 1,040,000, quoted on page 31 of the Housing Returns, 31st May, 1947 (Cmd. 7152), the source of this latter figure being his Department.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
The figure of 1,040,000 relates only to insured male workers aged 16 to 64. It includes the unemployed. The figure of 1,280,000 excludes the unemployed, but includes boys aged 14 and under 16, female workers aged 14 and under 60 and also employers and those working on their own account.
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.
