Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 2:56 pm on 20 October 2003.
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
Liberal Democrat
2:56,
20 October 2003
My Lords, does the Minister accept that it is important for farmers whose land surrounds crop trial areas—and, indeed, beekeepers, who may be keeping their bees within 2 or 3 kilometres; or, reputedly, up to 16 kilometres of a trial site—to have access to that information, so that they know what is happening to their livelihoods?
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.
