Oral Answers to Questions — Economic Warfare. – in the House of Commons at on 12 December 1939.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
asked the Minister of Economic Warfare why the Order-in-Council dealing with German exports is based on the precedent of March, 1915, and not that of February, 1918, which was much more thorough?
Sir Ronald Cross
, Rossendale
The hon. Member is presumably referring to the Order-in-Council of February, 1917, not 1918. The recent Order-in-Council dealing with German exports was based on the precedent of March, 1915, because that was considered sufficient for the present to ensure that; goods of enemy origin or ownership do not reach their destination overseas, and because His Majesty's Government are anxious to cause as little loss and inconvenience to neutrals as is compatible with the due execution of their policy of intercepting German exports. The question whether any more vigorous procedure should be adopted must depend on future circumstances.
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.
