Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 30 November 2009.
Mark Lancaster
Shadow Minister (International Development)
2:30,
30 November 2009
I have given the Minister advance notice of the concerns of my constituents over the continued uncertainty at the Radcliffe school in Milton Keynes. I understand that he has told Milton Keynes council that he is minded not to award academy status. Can he simply confirm that decision today? If not, will he explain to the parents why he is taking so long to make a decision?
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.
