Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:34 am on 22 January 1991.
Mr Harry Barnes
, North East Derbyshire
12:34,
22 January 1991
The Minister says that I did not contact him about the issue. I contacted the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South (Mrs. Currie) to ask whether I could be allowed a short period in which to make a speech—
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.
