Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Trade Dispute. – in the House of Commons am ar 23 Tachwedd 1926.
Captain Walter Shaw
, Westbury
asked the Secretary for Mines if the Government will undertake to continue the prohibition of the export of coal for domestic use until such time as the home consumers are no longer limited as to the quantity that they may purchase, and until such time as the cost to the home consumer is brought down to a reasonable figure?
Mr George Lane-Fox
, Barkston Ash
The Government will certainly bear in mind the considerations mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend, and I agree that inland requirements must be met before exports can be permitted.
Captain Walter Shaw
, Westbury
May I ask whether the Minister is aware that public opinion holds that people are being charged considerably more than is justified by the circumstances of the case?
Mr John Whitley
, Halifax
That is a matter for argument.
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.
