Oral Answers to Questions — Land and Natural Resources – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 December 1964.
Mr Carol Johnson
, Lewisham South
12:00,
21 December 1964
asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources if he will introduce legislation amending the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I am studying the proposals that have been put forward for legislation to amend the Act, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.
Mr Carol Johnson
, Lewisham South
As the need for Amendment is now generally recognised and the Commission has been pressing for the past eight years for amendment, will my right hon. Friend do his best to expedite the legislation? In that connection, will he have regard to the fact that the lack of adequate financial resources for the Commission is one of the things which is preventing the full development of the parks? Will he consider using the National Land Fund, as was originally intended, towards that end?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I can assure my hon. Friend that this matter has my most active and sympathetic attention. I am considering the proposals which have been made by the Parks Commission and other proposals by other bodies, and I will certainly consider any proposals which my hon. Friend makes.
Mr Richard Sharples
, Sutton and Cheam
Will the Minister give particular consideration in any legislation which he intends to introduce to the needs of coastal waters?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I assure the hon. Member that I am well aware of the importance of coastal waters.
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.
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.
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