Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 9 June 1964.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
12:00,
9 June 1964
Does the Minister recall that, when the Rating and Valuation Measure was in Committee, hon. Members who had promoted an Amendment were given an assurance that local authorities had this discretionary power? Is he aware that very few are using this discretionary power to exempt non-profit-making clubs engaged in welfare from rating, or even to modify their rating? Will he consider the position of workmen's clubs throughout the country, some of which are finding it difficult to continue?
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
