Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 29 April 1948.
Mr Wesley Perrins
, Birmingham, Yardley
12:00,
29 April 1948
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he will now allow a separate allowance of coal to subtenants.
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
Yes, Sir. As from 1st May separate registration will be permissible for all sub-tenant families consisting of two or more persons. Appropriate instructions are being issued to local fuel overseers.
Mr Wesley Perrins
, Birmingham, Yardley
Is my right hon. Friend aware that his very satisfactory answer will be warmly received by those who will benefit from it, and that it will remove a serious cause of friction between main and sub-tenants? Will he undertake to convey their thanks to the miners for the efforts they have made to make this allowance possible?
Mr David Renton
, Huntingdonshire
Is the Minister aware that many hon. Members of this House have been pressing for this change for the last two and a half years? Could he explain the delay in coming to this obviously necessary conclusion?
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
We could not afford the coal before.
Mr Charles Williams
, Torquay
Is the Minister aware that with efficiency this could have been done at least a year ago?
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
I cannot agree.
Mr Ronald Chamberlain
, Lambeth Norwood
Why is it that a single person who is a sub-tenant is not able to get this concession?
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
We have to consider the needs of the export market, and, therefore, I cannot give unlimited quantities of coal to the home market. I do not think that hardship exists in the case of single sub-tenants. It is always possible for licences to be granted to enable them to obtain additional coal.
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.
