Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 July 1947.
Mr George Jeger
, Winchester
12:00,
14 July 1947
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the permanent location of the Ordnance Survey Department has yet been decided; and what progress has been made in the transference of the staff from Chessington back to Southampton.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
The permanent location of the Ordnance Survey Department has not yet been decided. Since my hon. Friend last made inquiries a small number of evacuated staff have been transferred to Southampton, but the moves already planned may not be completed until the end of next year owing to the shortage of office accommodation.
Mr George Jeger
, Winchester
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the distress, hardship and expense occasioned to the families of the staff still living in Southampton while the staff are mainly resident in lodgings in Surrey?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
I am aware of this unfortunate fact, and my sympathy is with them. If office accommodation could be found for the staff, no one would be happier than I.
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.
