Oral Answers to Questions — Fiji – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 June 1964.
Mr James Boyden
, Bishop Auckland
12:00,
16 June 1964
asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to coordinate the plans of the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Minister of Labour in providing education and training for young workers.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
, Kinross and West Perthshire
My right hon. Friends concerned with this matter are in close consultation as is shown, for example, by the vigorous implementation of the provisions of the Industrial Training Act passed this year.
Mr James Boyden
, Bishop Auckland
Is the Prime Minister aware that many new features will develop with the Industrial Training Act and the expansion of day release? Does not he consider that he should strengthen the Ministry of Labour and the Department of Education and Science, ask the local education authorities to strengthen local organisation and set up some new organisation to cope with this new development?
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
, Kinross and West Perthshire
I do not think that, so hard on the heels of the Act, there is need for a new organisation. My right hon. Friends the Minister of Labour and the Secretary of State for Education and Science work together very closely on this matter. If the hon. Gentleman has any specific thing in mind, I will consider it.
Mr Dudley Smith
, Brentford and Chiswick
Nevertheless, does not my right hon. Friend agree that the Act marks a major advance in the facilities available for young people?
Sir Alec Douglas-Home
, Kinross and West Perthshire
Yes, Sir. It is an extremely valuable Measure.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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.
