Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 February 1959.
Mr Frank Hayman
, Falmouth and Camborne
12:00,
24 February 1959
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will arrange for a public inquiry into the proposal to fell Buckland Woods, in the Dartmoor National Park.
Mr Henry Brooke
, Hampstead
As the hon. Member is aware, discussions are taking place between the National Parks Commission, the Forestry Commission and my Department, and meanwhile I am not in a position to make a statement.
Mr Frank Hayman
, Falmouth and Camborne
Will the Minister take account of the fact that there is considerable concern at the proposal to clear-fell Buckland Woods, which are very beautiful and in a National Park, and that it is hoped that he will not support any proposal which would sacrifice beauty to economic expediency?
Mr Henry Brooke
, Hampstead
I know there are strong feelings held about this matter. That is why there was a preliminary discussion between the bodies I mentioned a fortnight ago. I understand that a further meeting is to be held on the site.
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.
