Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 January 1959.
Mr Jon Rankin
, Glasgow Govan
12:00,
20 January 1959
Surely, the Prime Minister is aware that the terms of reference of the Royal Commission prevented its considering the points that are raised here. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these matters were raised at a special conference of the Scottish Labour Party last September, and that their feeling was that owing to the increasing pressure of international and United Kingdom matters on the time of the House, Scottish affairs are not receiving the attention that they deserve? Will not the Prime Minister consider such an approach to the problem as is suggested in the Question?
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.
