Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 December 1964.
Mr Anthony Greenwood
, Rossendale
12:00,
11 December 1964
I have the hon. Member's last point very much in mind. It was for that reason that during my discussions I was careful not to press a point of view too strongly on those with whom I was discussing these matters. But I insisted that it was important to obtain the widest possible agreement about the form of government which was to be instituted in the new independent State.
The exact representation at the constitutional conference is still something which has to be decided, but I made clear, during my visit, my own view that if the new State was to be on a lasting basis it was important to get the widest form of agreement on the constitutional pattern and that that meant inviting not only official bodies, but political parties as well.
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.
