Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 December 1947.
Mr. Baldwin:
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether building work either new construction or repairs, which the Forestry Commission may wish to carry out, is controlled by the same licensing system as affects private individuals.
Sir Frank Soskice
, Birkenhead East
No, Sir. All building for the Forestry Commission is carried out either direct by the Ministry of Works or by contract arranged by that Department.
Sir Edward Keeling
, Twickenham
Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that he has done very well, and has given the impression that he knows more about these matters than his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture?
Sir Frank Soskice
, Birkenhead East
One should not be guided too much by impression.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
Is the Solicitor-General aware of the great difficulties which have been placed in the way of the Forestry Commission by various Government Departments which have handicapped the Forestry Commission in their efforts to get cottages built for their employees at Bedgebury?
Sir Frank Soskice
, Birkenhead East
I am sure that my right hon. Friend will be only too glad to have particulars of those difficulties which he will do his best to remove.
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.
