Oral Answers to Questions — Mercantile Marine. – in the House of Commons at on 8 April 1941.
Mr. David Adams:
asked the Minister of Shipping whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction is still prevalent at the inability of his Ministry to use available tonnage to the fullest advantage and whether he has considered the desirability of forming a special committee of competent shipowners within the Ministry for the purpose of allocating vessels according to their build and suitability for the particular trades involved?
Sir Ronald Cross
, Rossendale
The exigencies of war require the concentration of tonnage on essential services, and compel the restriction and even the complete cessation of certain trades. Within the limits thus imposed, ships under the control of the Ministry are allocated to the services for which they are best suited by men with a competent and practical knowledge of ships and shipping. I have already the benefit of the assistance of many shipowners in the Ministry, and do not consider any special committee to be necessary.
Sir Ronald Cross
, Rossendale
I was not aware of that until the hon. Member said so, and my Reply indicates that we see no good reason why such a committee should be appointed.
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.
