HC Deb 21 May 1979 vol 967 cc43-4W
Mr. Anthony Grant

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the Official Report the precise responsibilities of the Ministers in his Department.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

These are as follows:

CHIEF SECRETARY

  1. 1. Public expenditure and the general business of the public services sector—except as delegated to the Financial Secretary.
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  2. 2. Industry, energy, nationalised industries—except disposals of assets, delegated to the Financial Secretary.
  3. 3. Public service pay.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY

  1. 1. General assistance to the Chief Secretary.
  2. 2. Will normally deal with detailed public expenditure business on some subjects including the EEC budget, agriculture and local authority business—except local authority aspects of education, roads, transport, social services.
  3. 3. Parliamentary financial business including business concerning the Public Accounts Committee, Comptroller and Audit General—C & AG—and auditing matters, and review of the Exchequer and Audit Accounts.
  4. 4. Monetary policy, banks, building societies, national savings.
  5. 5. Overseas finance, exchange control, export credit.
  6. 6. Assistance to the Chancellor on 4 and 5 and on the EEC budget and EEC aspects of agriculture, including the common agricultural policy.

MINISTER OF STATE, my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Dover and Deal (Mr. Rees)

  1. 1. Case work and policy—except as handled by the Minister of State, Lord Cockfield—see below—from Inland Revenue—personal taxation, except capital taxes.
  2. 2. Policy questions on VAT and other Customs and Excise matters.
  3. 3. Case work for Customs and Excise.
  4. 4. Petroleum revenue tax.
  5. 5. Treasury minor Departments—including the Royal Mint.

MINISTER OF STATE, Lord Cockfield

  1. 1. Major policy questions on income and corporate taxation.
  2. 2. Policy on capital taxation.
  3. 3. Development Land Tax.
  4. 4. Major issues of fiscal policy not otherwise specifically allocated.