Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 March 1947.
Mr. Baldwin:
asked the Minister of Food whether he will give instructions to his inspectors that feedingstuffs coupons issued to farmers against the sale of seed corn will not be cancelled by reason of the fact that the farmer has not taken up the feedingstuffs within two months.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Feedingstuffs coupons are valid for two months from the date of issue. Experience has shown that provided the farmer places his order promptly this period is long enough for delivery to be made before the expiry date. I see no reason for giving feedingstuffs inspectors authority to vary their instructions.
Mr. Baldwin:
Is not the Minister aware that farmers ought to be encouraged to sell their seed corn and that it would be much better for the allocation of feeding-stuffs if the coupons could be spread over the winter rather than having to be used within two months?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
We might reconsider the period of validity of the documents but I am quite sure that whatever that period is, it must be adhered to. The hon. Gentleman will agree that we cannot have out-of-date ration documents being offered.
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.
