Oral Answers to Questions — Education – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 October 1949.
Sir Ian Fraser
, Lonsdale
12:00,
20 October 1949
asked the Minister of Education if he will arrange for teachers' pensions to be paid monthly.
Mr George Tomlinson
, Farnworth
The quarterly payment of teachers' pensions is laid down by statute in the Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1925, and monthly payment could not be arranged without amending legislation. The adoption of monthly payments would increase substantially the manpower employed and the cost of administering the superannuation Acts.
Sir Ian Fraser
, Lonsdale
In view of the fact that practically all Civil Service pensions are paid monthly and war pensions are paid weekly or monthly, and because of the hardship caused to small people waiting for a quarterly payment, will the right. hon. Gentleman put this down in his file for consideration whenever legislation is possible?
Mr George Tomlinson
, Farnworth
Yes, Sir, I will do that.
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.
