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Ministerial Duties

Oral Answers to Questions — Civil Service – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 June 1991.

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Photo of Mr Anthony Favell Mr Anthony Favell , Stockport 12:00, 10 June 1991

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how much of his time is spent on civil service matters.

Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex

In the past months, approximately 20 per cent., but obviously that can and would be varied in the light of any specific requirements.

Photo of Mr Anthony Favell Mr Anthony Favell , Stockport

With the establishment of next steps executive agencies, does my right hon. Friend spend more or less time on civil service matters?

Photo of Mr Timothy Renton Mr Timothy Renton , Mid Sussex

From my point of view, with the establishment of so many next steps agencies the difference is that I make certain that I call on the agency in any part of the country that I am visiting. That gives me the opportunity to find out how for example the employment or the HMSO executive agencies are working out and to get some first-hand idea of the successes and of the continuing challenges remaining to the agencies.

Photo of Mr Robert Maclennan Mr Robert Maclennan , Caithness and Sutherland

Will the right hon. Gentleman take time off from his work on civil service matters to consider, wearing his other hat, the predicament of the National theatre?

Photo of Mr Bernard Weatherill Mr Bernard Weatherill , Croydon North East

Order. Not on this question.

Minister

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.