Oral Answers to Questions — Public Health – in the House of Commons at on 25 March 1943.
Mr Robert Morgan
, Stourbridge
asked the Minister of Health to what extent his Department concerns itself with the bona fides of the many products which are advertised as containing large proportions of vitamin C.
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
My Department is not directly responsible for this matter, but local food and drugs authorities have power to take proceedings against any person who publishes, or is a party to the publication of, an advertisement which falsely describes any food or drug or is otherwise calculated to mislead as to its nature, substance or quality.
Sir Alfred Beit
, St Pancras South East
Is the Minister really satisfied that there is such a thing as vitamin C?
Mr Ernest Brown
, Leith
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.
