Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 July 1947.
Lieut.-Colonel Dower:
asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the urgent need of a maternity wing being added to the Cockermouth Cottage Hospital; that funds are available for this purpose; and if he will now withdraw his veto.
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
When the Question was before me last year, my information was that the existing maternity accommodation would suffice if enough midwives could be found fully to staff it. As I then told the hospital, their scheme should not proceed pending consideration of all the hospital needs of the area by the Regional Hospital Board, which has now been appointed.
Lieut.-Colonel Dower:
Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this is a very wide area and that maternity cases are very often to be taken 20 or 30 miles by ambulance, and that they have the money and the plans? If he will give his approval, it will be a very great service to this locality in this very difficult time.
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
I am afraid that money and plans are not sufficient these days. There have to be labour and materials as well. Furthermore, I think it would be very bad indeed to make definite alterations in maternity accommodation before the Regional Hospital Board now preparing plans has an opportunity of submitting them.
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.
