Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Environment – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 27 Mawrth 1991.
Thomas McAvoy
, Glasgow Rutherglen
12:00,
27 Mawrth 1991
Surely the Minister accepts that this issue concerns both sides of the House, not least his hon. Friend the Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen)? Does he accept that in the case of opencast mining, where the effects are disastrous it should be regarded as a criminal offence?
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.
