Oral Answers to Questions — Housing. – in the House of Commons am ar 12 Mawrth 1924.
Mr John Mills
, Dartford
asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the new houses built during 1922–23 by the Stone and Swanscombe Council have had to be provided with cesspool drainage at considerable cost as a result of the delay in sanctioning the sewer outfall; and whether he will favourably consider the remittance of these charges?
Mr John Wheatley
, Glasgow Shettleston
The hon. Member appears to be under some misapprehension in this matter. These houses were provided with a system of cesspool drainage, the cost of which has been charged to the Housing Assisted Scheme and will be borne by the Exchequer. I understand that the work of sewer construction was put in hand to provide work for the unemployed, and that the ordinary unemployment grant has been sanctioned by the Unemployment Grants Committee.
Mr John Mills
, Dartford
Is the Minister aware that the real point of the question is that an outfall scheme has not yet been sanctioned, and that, consequently, cesspool drainage has had to be provided for these houses?
Mr John Wheatley
, Glasgow Shettleston
If the hon. Member will place the facts and details before me, I will give him all the information at my disposal.
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.
