Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 30 Hydref 1947.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
12:00,
30 Hydref 1947
asked the Minister of Health whether it is his intention to recommend by a circular to all local authorities that they should encourage their employees to join the Territorial Army and in particular whether he will recommend local authorities to grant extra holidays with pay to any of their employees who attend the full period of annual training.
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
No, Sir. Local authorities will already be aware of the Government's views on this matter as stated in the Debate on the Territorial Army on the 21st July last. The question of granting additional leave with or without pay remains however one for local authorities to decide.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
While assuming that the right hon. Gentleman is quite uninterested in the efficiency of the fighting Forces does he not think that his Department might give a lead to local authorities, particularly in view of the fact that many large employers are doing their very best?
Mr Aneurin Bevan
, Ebbw Vale
Local authorities are perfectly well aware of this, and there is no need for a circular. There are various other desirable matters on which we might circularise local authorities.
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.
