I move for leave to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for the establishment of a Department of Health and a Department of Social Welfare, and for that and other purposes to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Acts, 1924 to 1939.
Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 1946—First Stage.
Leave granted.
I suggest that the next stage be taken on Wednesday.
When will the Bill be circulated?
To-night. It is a short and simple Bill, containing only a couple of sections.
Will the Minister say whether or not an explanatory memorandum will be circulated with it?
The Bill will be self-explanatory. It is merely a short amendment of the Ministers and Secretaries Acts to enable two new Ministries to be set up.
A short amendment of the Ministers and Secretaries Acts might require a long explanation.
What it is proposed to do is simple.
The Bill will not deal with the functions of the new Departments which are to be created?
It sets out the functions for which the new Departments will be responsible.
It will give an outline of the functions?
The functions being allocated to the new Departments are set out seriatim.
Second Stage fixed for Wednesday, 13th November.