Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 November 1947.
Brigadier Ralph Rayner
, Totnes
12:00,
27 November 1947
asked the Minister of Health how many children in this country are still officially listed as evacuated; and for what reasons.
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
On 1st March, 1947, when the last count was taken, the number was 3,119. These children remain evacuated because their parents are unable to provide a suitable home for them, or, in some cases, because the parents are dead or cannot be traced.
Mr Nevil Beechman
, St Ives
In view of the fact that I have sent the Minister letter after letter during last year from parents who were evacuated themselves, or parents of evacuated children, longing to get back to their own homes, will the Minister now take some interest in this matter?
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
I have already taken a very considerable interest in the matter, and I will have these cases investigated.
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.
