Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Social Services – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 6 November 1973.
Mr Tim Fortescue
, Liverpool, Garston
12:00,
6 November 1973
The Minister has just said that he is unable to move beyond the age limit for the Christmas bonus. How, then, does he account for the fact that a married woman who is over pensionable age is not entitled to receive this bonus if her husband is under pensionable age?
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.
