Oral Answers to Questions — Coal – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 June 1964.
Mr Thomas Fraser
, Hamilton
12:00,
11 June 1964
asked the Minister of Power if he will estimate what additional funds he will require to make available to the National Coal Board for capital investment in the next five years.
Mr John Peyton
, Yeovil
The Board's borrowing powers are due for reconsiderat on in the coming year. I should prefer not to anticipate the estimates of the Board's needs, which will have to be pre pared for that purpose.
Mr Thomas Fraser
, Hamilton
Is the Minister aware that in recent times there have been many Press comments on the accounts of the Coal Board in anticipation that they were back in the red again? Is not he aware that the accounts of the Coal Board are not in the red and that the prospects of the industry are still pretty bright?
Mr John Peyton
, Yeovil
I think that is correct, but I do not think that I should attempt to anticipate the Board's accounts
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.
