Oral Answers to Questions — Communities and Local Government – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 8 May 2007.
Alan Beith
Chair, Constitutional Affairs Committee
2:30,
8 May 2007
What local bodies and individuals within Northumberland are included in her Department's consultation on local government reorganisation in Northumberland.
Phil Woolas
Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government
We are consulting widely across the private, public and voluntary and community sectors. My Department's website lists the key consultees, and explains that anyone may request an e-mail list of particular local bodies that we are consulting in each region. I have arranged for the north-east list to be sent to the right hon. Gentleman.
Alan Beith
Chair, Constitutional Affairs Committee
Why does the Government's list of key stakeholders consist entirely of national and regional bodies that might have an interest in having fewer local authorities with which to deal? Is it because the Minister accepts that the people of Northumberland, in a referendum undertaken by this Government, have already voted for two districts rather than one?
Phil Woolas
Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government
The right hon. Gentleman knows that it would be unwise of me to comment on the proposals for his area, but let me take the opportunity to dispel the idea that we are interested only in regional and national bodies. This is a devolutionary measure, and it is up to councils also to consult local people and organisations—which I know they are doing in the right hon. Gentleman's area.
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.
