Oral Answers to Questions — Posts and Telecommunications – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 17 Rhagfyr 1973.
Mr Tam Dalyell
, West Lothian
12:00,
17 Rhagfyr 1973
asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what new instructions he has given to members of his Department for the saving of electricity.
Mr John Eden
, Bournemouth West
All staff in my Department are being instructed to apply strictly the restrictions on the use of electricity recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Mr Tam Dalyell
, West Lothian
As it is all too easy to criticise the public service, will the Minister make clear what is the truth, namely, that the public services, including the Post Office, probably do more than their share and not less than their share in the current situation?
Mr John Eden
, Bournemouth West
Yes, Sir. I accept and agree with what the hon. Gentleman says.
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.
