Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 March 1945.
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
12:00,
28 March 1945
asked the Minister of Supply if he will investigate the possibilities of getting timber from Germany for post-war housing and bringing it to this country in German ships as soon as the war in Europe ends.
Mr James de Rothschild
, Isle of Ely
I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Prime Minister yesterday to a similar question by the hon. Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison).
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
Could my hon. Friend say if any action is being taken, because I believe something over 20 per cent. of the surface of Germany is now covered with soft wood that would be suitable for this purpose?
Mr James de Rothschild
, Isle of Ely
I cannot add anything to the answer which was given by the Prime Minister yesterday, but every attention is being given to this subject at the present time.
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.
