Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 1947.
Mr Hector Hughes
, Aberdeen North
12:00,
12 February 1947
asked the Minister of Food if he has contracted with the Norwegian Government for the importation of Norwegian herring to be kippered in Scotland; what are the terms of the contract; where are the herring to be landed; in what quantities, and where are they to be kippered; and what will be the effect on the price and supply of kippered herring for food in Great Britain.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
Yes, Sir. The contract with the Norwegian authorities, pro- vides for the sale beween 1st January and 30th April of up to 30,000 tons of herrings. The quantity imported will depend upon the fishing and the demand. The herrings will be landed at Aberdeen, North Shields and Hull. About two-thirds will be offered to kipperers in or near these ports. Kippers produced from Norwegian herrings will be subject to the same maximum prices as kippers produced from British herrings and will be a useful addition to food supplies.
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.
