Oral Answers to Questions — Pensions and National Insurance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 March 1956.
Sir Raymond Gower
, Barry
12:00,
26 March 1956
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many major rural electricity schemes will be commenced in Wales and in the County of Glamorgan, respectively, during the next twelve months.
Mr. Watkins:
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power how much of the proposed investment programme for electricity of £204 million for 1956–57 has been cut in respect of rural electrification; and how many major schemes for rural electrification in South Wales have been approved by him.
Mr Aubrey Jones
, Birmingham, Hall Green
The provision for rural electrification within the approved total investment programme of the Central Electricity Authority respresents a reduction of some £800,000 from that included within the programme of £213 million originally proposed by the Authority. It represents, however, an increase in that included in the reduced programme of £204 million mentioned by the hon. Gentleman. The allocation of the total provided for rural electrification among the different area boards and the approval of individual schemes are matters for the Authority and the boards concerned, and not for me.
Sir Raymond Gower
, Barry
Has my right hon. Friend noted that on 13th March the Secretary of State for Scotland was able to give detailed figures of three Scottish counties? Does he not think it quite unreasonable that Scottish Members should have the facility of such detailed information whilst Welsh Members—and, indeed, English Members—are not able to have a picture of Wales as a whole in this case?
Mr Aubrey Jones
, Birmingham, Hall Green
I have no competence over the Scottish electricity boards.
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.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
