Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 November 1947.
Mr Edward Hardy
, Salford South
12:00,
24 November 1947
asked the Minister of Works when a licence was issued to convert No. 227 Cross Lane, Salford, from a dental surgery to a milk bar and ice cream business, what was the cost of the conversion, and who applied for the licence.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
The only licences in this case were issued by the Salford City Council, at dates when the premises were in use as a milk bar. They were not for purposes of conversion.
Mr Edward Hardy
, Salford South
In view of the unsatisfactory state of cottage property in Salford, where a protest meeting was held by members of the council, and estate agents and landlords cannot get the necessary materials to make such property fit for habitation, will my right hon. Friend give priority in this matter over milk bars and ice cream merchants?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
These licences, which were for amounts below £100, were issued by the Salford City Council, and they are the responsible housing authority for the district.
Mr John Lewis
, Bolton
If a recommendation is made by another Government Department does it automatically follow that the Ministry of Works will grant a licence?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
No, Sir, but in this case no such recommendation was made.
Mr Peter Thorneycroft
, Monmouth
How is it that priority can be obtained for a milk bar, but not for plumbing for an agricultural cottage?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
There was no conversion to a milk bar in this case at all; the milk bar was there before the licence was granted.
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.
