Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons am ar 10 Rhagfyr 1941.
Mr Daniel Lipson
, Cheltenham
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is satisfied that he has adequate powers to prevent the closing down of pits engaged in the production of coal?
Mr David Grenfell
, Gŵyr
Yes, Sir.
Mr Daniel Lipson
, Cheltenham
Has the Minister exercised these powers on any occasion?
Mr David Grenfell
, Gŵyr
Yes, Sir. The Secretary for Mines has power, under the Defence Regulations, to issue an Order, and this has been done upon a number of occasions.
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.
