Oral Answers to Questions — Local Government – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 October 1969.
Mr Arnold Shaw
, Ilford South
12:00,
14 October 1969
asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made regarding holding the public inquiry into the Redbridge Council's proposals for the Town Centre Redevelopment Scheme.
Mr Arthur Skeffington
, Hayes and Harlington
My right hon. Friend is desirous of arranging the inquiry as soon as possible, but must await a submission from the G.L.C. with possible amendments to the proposals before him.
Mr Arnold Shaw
, Ilford South
Does not my hon. Friend appreciate the anxieties of people who have been living in this blighted area for quite a long time? The development scheme has been going on for many years, and these people are constantly being fobbed off with one excuse or another. Can he do something to expedite the procedure, perhaps by egging on the authorities concerned, and may I have the assurance that once the inquiry has been held as little delay as possible will follow?
Mr Arthur Skeffington
, Hayes and Harlington
; I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern about this matter and that it has gone on for a very long time. This has been one of the difficulties, particularly before we had the new powers in the 1968 Act, but the G.L.C. hopes to advertise its proposals shortly and we may have them by next month.
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.
