Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Communities – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:15 pm on 16 September 2024.
Ciara Ferguson
Sinn Féin
2:15,
16 September 2024
The Minister would agree that, when it comes to financial support, the affordable warmth scheme is critical, particularly for our most vulnerable people and pensioners on low incomes. Can he outline whether the scheme is unable to be continued for new applications, due to the chronic and sustained underfunding by the British Government? If so, what conversations have been had to support vulnerable people whose applications are being processed, or any new applicants?
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.
