Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply. – in the House of Commons at on 19 June 1941.
Mr Tom Smith
, Normanton
asked the Minister of Supply whether he will have inquiry made as to the delay that took place in removing imported pit timber from certain ports?
Mr Harold Macmillan
, Stockton-on-Tees
During the last few weeks large quantities of pit timber have been removed from the ports. Difficulties were experienced at certain ports, but these have been quickly overcome and the dispersal is now completed.
Mr Tom Smith
, Normanton
Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that this Question deals with the difficulties before a certain incident occurred, and if there had been one-tenth of the speed in getting the timber away from the ports before that occurrence, thousands of standards of good pit timber would have been saved? Will he have an inquiry made into why it took place?
Mr Harold Macmillan
, Stockton-on-Tees
The difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers have been largely removed, and I think it would be disheartening to the Department if we were to be blamed for curing mistakes as for having made them.
Mr Tom Smith
, Normanton
Will the hon. Gentleman appreciate that my desire for an inquiry is not as to what has happened since a certain occurrence, but what happened before? Is he aware that there was wrangling for about 15 months over the price of stacking timber, plus the fact that a certain price was offered which was not accepted, and will he inquire into why the timber was left at the port so long?
Mr Harold Macmillan
, Stockton-on-Tees
I will look into it further.
Major Abraham Lyons
, Leicester East
Does not my hon. Friend use the compulsory powers he has with regard to timber and everything else?
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.
