Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 October 1969.
Mr Graham Page
, Crosby
12:00,
14 October 1969
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to introduce legislation to clarify the position of local authorities with regard to coastal pollution.
Mr Denis Howell
, Birmingham Small Heath
It is intended to put on a legislative basis the co-operative arrangements which have already been made between local authorities, and for the payment of grants to them. This legislation will be introduced as soon as opportunity permits.
Mr Graham Page
, Crosby
I am very glad to hear that. The hon. Gentleman says that it will be as soon as opportunity permits, but I am sure that he will realise that local authorities are put in grave difficulties while they are left in doubt about what the legislation will be. May I therefore urge him to bring in the legislation as quickly as possible?
Mr Denis Howell
, Birmingham Small Heath
I will undertake, in conjunction with the local authority associations, to see what can be done, and let them know our intentions, but the difficulties of programming legislation in the House are, I know, well appreciated by the hon. Gentleman.
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.
