Oral Answers to Questions — Board of Trade – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 December 1964.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
12:00,
10 December 1964
asked the President of the Board of Trade what account he proposes to take of the future development of Dounreay scientific station for industrial development in the north-east of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Douglas Jay
, Battersea North
I should be glad to consider any ways in which the future use of Dounreay, when this is determined, might help the industrial development of northeast Scotland and the development districts in particular.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
Does the Minister realise that the essence of my Question is directed to relating the scientific work at Dounreay to the industrial development of north-east Scotland, which is very badly needed? Will he take steps to ensure that the scientific efforts or potentialities of Dounreay are directed towards assisting north-east Scotland in this way?
Mr Douglas Jay
, Battersea North
Yes. I agree with my hon. and learned Friend that this is extremely important, and I will consult my colleagues who are more immediately concerned with the future of Dounreay.
Mr George Mackie
, Caithness and Sutherland
Is the Minister aware that the greatest service to industrial development he could make would be to persuade his right hon. Friends to make up their minds about whether they intend to go ahead with the prototype fast breeder reactor and where they are going to place it? Would he try to persuade them to place it at Dounreay where the skills are assembled to make it work well?
Mr Douglas Jay
, Battersea North
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that it is very important that this decision should be taken reasonably soon.
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.
