Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 March 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
17 March 1947
asked the Minister of Food if he will give details of the quantities, prices and periods of delivery of each of the articles of food and fodder purchased during his recent visit to the U.S.A. and Canada.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
No, Sir. For reasons which have been given repeatedly, it would be contrary to the national interest to publish the details of the contracts which are periodically entered into by my Department.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that these bulk purchases and secret transactions are one of the main reasons for food shortage? Is he also aware that the Socialist Government got in because of empty heads, and that empty bellies will get them out?
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.
