Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Fuel and Power – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 6 November 1947.
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
12:00,
6 November 1947
No, Sir. The Coal Distribution Order, 1943, under which local fuel overseers are appointed, does not bind the Crown, and premises in Government occupation are not, therefore, subject to their authority. Comprehensive arrangements have, however, been made to secure economy in fuel consumption by Government Departments. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works has recently stated, there was a saving in the main Government offices of 15.75 per cent. in the first quarter of 1947, compared with the corresponding period in 1946.
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.
