Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 12 December 1939.
Mr Arthur Jenkins
, Pontypool
asked the Minister of Shipping whether arrangements are being made to supply an adequate amount of shipping tonnage to meet the increased demand for coal from this country to markets overseas, particularly France?
Mr John Gilmour
, Glasgow Pollok
Every effort is being made in this direction. The allocation of ships for the carriage of coal to France is being dealt with by the Anglo-French Permanent Executive Committee for Shipping, in consultation with the Anglo-French Coal Requirements Committee.
Mr Arthur Jenkins
, Pontypool
Is the Minister satisfied that there is adequate shipping to meet the demands of France?
Mr John Gilmour
, Glasgow Pollok
There have been various factors in the increased demand for coal and t;he disappearance of neutral tonnage has affected the position, but we are doing everything we can to expedite the matter.
Mr Robert Boothby
, Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire Eastern
Does my right hon. Friend keep under consideration the possibility of purchasing ships in foreign countries where it is profitable to do so?
Mr John Gilmour
, Glasgow Pollok
Yes, Sir.
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.
