– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 13 December 1973.
Mr John Stonehouse
, Wednesbury
12:00,
13 December 1973
asked the Prime Minister if he will issue an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to pay an official visit to London.
Mr Edward Heath
, Bexley
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is always welcome here but there are no plans to issue an official invitation at present.
Mr John Stonehouse
, Wednesbury
The Prime Minister will know that for its export earnings the Bangladesh economy is largely dependent on jute and jute products, but is he aware that the proposals within the EEC to impose duties on jute products will have a devastating effect on the Bangladesh economy? Will the right hon. Gentleman therefore undertake to study the problem and take it up with our partners in the EEC when he next meets them?
Mr Edward Heath
, Bexley
Yes, Sir. I am perfectly prepared to arrange to have the problem studied further and for it to be dealt with in the Council of Ministers, which is dealing with the question of special arrangements for the sub-continent. Some of these arrangements have already been made, as I think the right hon. Gentleman knows. I am perfectly prepared to ask my right hon. Friend to have a further look at this matter.
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.
An informal reference to the Council of the European Union.
