Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 1947.
Mr David Renton
, Huntingdonshire
12:00,
12 February 1947
asked the Minister of Food whether he will give an undertaking that there will be no increase in the number of points required for the exchange of any item of food which is at present on points.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
No, Sir. Correct points values are essential to the proper operation of the points rationing scheme. They must be adjusted so that supplies are fairly distributed to consumers.
Mr David Renton
, Huntingdonshire
Is the hon. Lady aware that this continuous debasement of points values for goods, has lead in fact to a reduction of the total amount of food available for the consumer; and will she give an assurance that this process will be arrested?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
I do not think that the hon. Gentleman understands our points banking scheme. If there is a run on a certain food we must increase the points value. If food remains on the grocers' shelves, of course we shall reduce the points value. That seems to me to be simple arithmetic.
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.
