Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 February 1959.
Mr Charles Grey
, City of Durham
12:00,
24 February 1959
When will the Government make up their mind about this matter? It has been considered for the past six or seven years, which is a long time. May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman to bear in mind that the city council and the county council are anxious that the Minister should determine what Department is coming to Durham and that a speedy decision should be made?
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.
