Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 1 Rhagfyr 1947.
Mr David Gammans
, Hornsey
12:00,
1 Rhagfyr 1947
asked the Minister of Works what was the personnel employed by his Ministry on the 1st November, 1947, and the number on the 1st November, 1946; also the total cost in salaries and allowances on both dates.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
The number of non-industrial staff employed by my Department on 1st November, 1947, was 20,256 and on 1st November, 1946, 20,586. The cost of salaries and allowances was approximately £8,500,000 and £8,320,000 at those dates respectively.
Mr David Gammans
, Hornsey
What cut in these extraordinary figures does the right hon. Gentleman expect to make in view of the reduction in the building programme?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
That will have to await the carrying out of the cuts in the building programme.
Mr Arthur Molson
, High Peak
Has the Ministry of Works carried out the reduction in the number of civil servants which was called for in the Prime Minister's circular?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
We have attempted to carry out the reductions which were required, but when we get additional demands made upon us by other Departments it often makes it impossible for us to carry out the total percentage reduction.
Mr Arthur Molson
, High Peak
Would the right hon. Gentleman answer my question? Has his Department carried out the reduction which was called for in the Prime Minister's circular?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
So far as I know, we have made our best endeavours so to do.
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.
