Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 November 1973.
Mr Reginald Freeson
, Willesden East
12:00,
21 November 1973
The Minister gave a scandalous answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), who asked whether any instruction would be given by the right hon. Gentleman to the Crown Agents to cease investments in slum property. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is critical concern about activities in this direction? Is he further aware that in such a matter there is a balance of responsibility and confidence between the principals overseas and this House and this country? Surely any decision he takes should reflect that as well? Will he think again about his answer to my hon. Friend?
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.
