Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 November 1947.
Mr James Hutchison
, Glasgow Central
12:00,
27 November 1947
asked the Minister of Labour whether any guarantee of increased output has accompanied the recently announced increase of 15s. weekly in miners' wages.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I am not aware that a guarantee of this nature is proposed as part of the projected agreement between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mine-workers relating to an increase in the minimum and day rates of wages in the coalmining industry.
Mr James Hutchison
, Glasgow Central
Does not that conflict with the Government's stated policy that no further increases in wages can be given in this industry without some corresponding increase in output?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I am not in a position to say whether or not that policy was stated, but I am in a position to state that we are getting an increase in production before the wage increase becomes effective.
Mr George Sylvester
, Normanton
In view of the recent increases in production before the wage increase is effective, would it not be far better if we had less bickering from the other side of the House?
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.
