Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Malaya and Singapore – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 February 1954.
Mr George Thomson
, Dundee East
12:00,
24 February 1954
Would the Minister agree that the most important way in which we can get progress in Malaya is by as swift a political advance as is possible, and that we ought to have an early declaration from the Government, particularly in regard to the recommendation of universal adult sufferage without barrier of race?
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.
