Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 4 June 1964.
Mr Frank McLeavy
, Bradford East
12:00,
4 June 1964
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that as this unfortunate accident occurred in my Constituency and that I was so concerned that I immediately contacted his Ministry with a view to a statement being made at the House? I thank the right hon. Gentleman for making such a statement to the House.
May I thank the Minister also for announcing that there is to be a public inquiry, which, I think, will give considerable satisfaction to the citizens of Bradford, and associate myself, and this side of the House, with the tribute which has been paid to the driver of the train, and with the expression of sympathy to the relatives concerned and to those injured.
I hope that the inquiry will reveal any defect which may have arisen, and that Bradford will regain its long record of the absence of serious railway accidents.
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.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
