Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 21 November 2005.
Linda Riordan
Labour, Halifax
2:30,
21 November 2005
If she will visit Halifax Constituency to see the effects of the Government's spending on, and protection of, historic buildings in the town.
David Lammy
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Culture)
Diary commitments mean that I cannot visit my hon. Friend's Constituency in the near future. I will visit neighbouring constituencies in the region in the new year.
Linda Riordan
Labour, Halifax
The Minister will know that since 1997, £10 million has been invested in the historic Shibden hall in Halifax. Is he also aware that, with the exception of Liverpool, Calderdale has more listed buildings than anywhere outside London, and that the unique Piece hall is in desperate need of major investment?
David Lammy
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Culture)
In fact, £12 million has been invested by the Heritage Lottery Fund in Halifax in a short period, and my hon. Friend will be grateful for that money. The Heritage Lottery Fund met the community only last month to discuss how it can give even more support to initiatives in the town centre.
Michael Martin
Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
Order. Halifax is too far from East Londonderry for me to call the hon. Gentleman.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
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.
Gregory Campbell
Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport), Shadow Minister (Defence)