Oral Answers to Questions — National Health Insurance. – in the House of Commons am ar 16 Gorffennaf 1925.
Mr Francis Blundell
, Ormskirk
asked the Minister of Health the difference between optical treatment, which was previously allowed to be given as an additional benefit under the Health Insurance Acts, and ophthalmic treatment, as now allowed?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:
The difference is that with the new definition of the benefit it has been possible to make arrangements whereby an insured person is in a position to obtain the advice of an ophthalmic specialist when it is required in the opinion of his medical practitioner. Under the previous definition it was a matter of doubt how far this could be done.
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.
