Oral Answers to Questions — Coal Industry – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 13 Mawrth 1947.
Mr Peter Roberts
, Sheffield Ecclesall
12:00,
13 Mawrth 1947
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that certain Coal Board officials are not having regard to existing contracts of service of subordinate employees and are bringing pressure to bear in order to enforce a change of employment on employees to their detriment; and what action he is taking to prevent this in future.
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Seaham
No, Sir. The terms and conditions of service between the National Coal Board and its servants are matters for the Board, subject to the provisions of the Coal Nationalisation Act, and I have no power to interfere.
Mr Peter Roberts
, Sheffield Ecclesall
Is the Minister aware that under the Act he has powers to give directions? Is he not further aware that employees are frightened of bringing these matters up because of victimisation, and would it not be better in the interests of the employees that a general instruction should be given along those lines?
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Seaham
If the employees are afraid of victimisation or anything else they should consult their organisations.
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.
