Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Transport – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 11 Chwefror 1991.
Tom Clarke
Shadow Minister (Disability)
12:00,
11 Chwefror 1991
Is the Minister aware of the excellent record of the work force of the Coatbridge container base and Freightliner depot? Will he match their commitment by ensuring adequate investment so that they will have jobs in the future? When British Rail takes a decision about the Freightliner village which will arise from the channel tunnel, does he accept that it would be outrageous if it considered a location in Glasgow in view of the problems of the Kingston bridge? Given the infrastructure that already exists at Coatbridge and Gartcosh as well as Mossend and the huge job losses in Lanarkshire—many of which were due to the Secretary of State—can we return to the prosperity that we once had under a Labour Government and ensure that that development takes place in Lanarkshire?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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.
