Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 5 February 1947.
Colonel Ralph Glyn
, Abingdon
12:00,
5 February 1947
asked the Minister of Food what action it is proposed to take to increase the number of grain-drying plants and storage of grain in rural districts, and how many grain-storage depots are administered by his Department.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
Grain drying and storage accommodation is provided mainly by producers, merchants and users. Encouragement is given by my Department and the Agricultural Departments to firms wishing to instal grain drying and storage facilities where the need is demonstrated. Sixteen grain silos are administered by my Department, while storage is also available in general storage premises and on airfields. The installation of small driers on some of these airfields is under consideration.
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.
