Oral Answers to Questions — Employment – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 December 1947.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
12:00,
9 December 1947
asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now make available to hon. Members the report of the Fact-Finding Committee set up as a result of the Grimethorpe Colliery dispute.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for West Edinburgh (Lieut.-Colonel Hutchison) on 13th November.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, on the occasion to which he has referred, he stated that he knew that public opinion is much interested in this matter? Is there any reason, other than the desire to shield certain persons, why the House should not be given this information?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
The hon. Member should not jump to such a conclusion.
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
Because it is nonsense to do so. The answer I gave was that the report was not made to me. It was a private investigation made by the Mineworkers' Union, and I have no authority to order them to publish that report; it is a matter of domestic interest to them alone.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
Since the Question was asked on 13th November, has the right hon. Gentleman asked the Union for permission to publish it?
Mr George Isaacs
, Southwark North
No, Sir, and I do not intend to do so.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
As coal production is going up so magnificently, is not this Question completely frivolous and stupid?
Mr David Griffiths
, Rother Valley
In view of the dismay of hon. Members opposite over the fact that coal production is increasing, is not my right hon. Friend aware that the less the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) says about the matter, the better it will be for all concerned.
Mr Quintin Hogg
, Oxford
On a point of Order. Are these supplementary questions in Order?
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
I often have very great difficulty over supplementary questions. I always recommend hon. Members to read page 336 of Erskine May.
Mr Quintin Hogg
, Oxford
Having regard to the number of times that we have had that page referred to, may not it be read out to the House?
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
I think that hon. Members can spend a little spare time in the Library reading it for themselves.
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.
