Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 1964.
Mr Harold Davies
, Leek
12:00,
12 February 1964
Will the Minister encourage the British Waterways Board, particularly in respect of areas about which he is approached, such as the extension of the Trent and Mersey Canal at the Caldon branch, where the local youth group is trying to develop this in the Churnet Valley near Leek, which is one of the most beautiful bits of Britain? Would he see that this stretch of canal is saved for the youth of this area, which is on the edge of the Peak District? Is he aware that some months ago we had a hopeful answer from the Minister during an Adjournment Debate about this canal?
An adjournment debate is a short half hour debate that is introduced by a backbencher at the end of each day's business in the House of Commons.
Adjournment debates are also held in the side chamber of Westminster Hall.
This technical procedure of debating a motion that the House should adjourn gives backbench members the opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them, and to have a minister respond to the points they raise.
The speaker holds a weekly ballot in order to decide which backbench members will get to choose the subject for each daily debate.
Backbenchers normally use this as an opportunity to debate issues related to their constituency.
An all-day adjournment debate is normally held on the final day before each parliamentary recess begins. On these occasions MPs do not have to give advance notice of the subjects which they intend to raise.
The leader of the House replies at the end of the debate to all of the issues raised.
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.
