Oral Answers to Questions — Land and Natural Resources – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 December 1964.
Mr. J. E. B. Hill:
asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what plans he has for increasing the water resources available for agricultural irrigation.
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
To increase the water resources available for irrigation is one of the objects of the Water Resources Act, 1963, and it will be for the river authorities established under the Act to formulate plans.
Mr. Hill:
Is the Minister aware that there is considerable disquiet at the insertion of yet another Ministry and Minister in the field of agriculture, drainage and irrigation? Can he say whether he has experts in his Department who understand the problem of agriculture and irrigation? Will he press the river authorities to concentrate on further measures of water conservation so that this important development will expand and not be restricted for lack of effective policy?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I must ask the hon. Member to await a further statement which will be made on this subject.
Mr John Peyton
, Yeovil
When the right hon. Gentleman next answers Questions, will he see if he can create a record by transferring all his Questions to one or other of his right hon. Friends?
Mr David Gibson-Watt
, Hereford
The right hon. Gentleman referred in his Answer to the responsibility of the river boards. Can he tell us who has responsibility in Wales for the river boards, he, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government or the Secretary of State for Welsh Affairs, or all three together?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
If the hon. Member will await a further statement he will see that that is covered.
Mr Arthur Blenkinsop
, South Shields
Will my right hon. Friend take note of this new spirit and demand for activity and action on behalf of hon. Members opposite who never showed any of this demand for twelve years?
Mr Frederick Willey
, Sunderland North
I find it most encouraging.
Mr David Webster
, Weston-Super-Mare
On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Answers to the last 27 Questions, I beg to give notice that I shall raise these matters again.
Sir Harry Hylton-Foster
, Cities of London and Westminster
Order. That notice is irregular and has no effect.
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.
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.
