Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12:15 pm on 25 June 2024.
Daniel McCrossan
Social Democratic and Labour Party
12:15,
25 June 2024
Rather than rehashing what the Minister and the Chair of the Committee have said, I find myself in the strange position where I agree entirely with the Minister. It does not happen often, but it has happened today. It is clear that the Bill is a step towards a more responsive and effective Child Maintenance Service. It is a commitment to the children who depend on timely maintenance payments for their well-being and future. It is an important alignment, and I thank the 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.
