Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 March 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
24 March 1947
asked the Minister of Food when he proposes to announce the prices and conditions of sale of strawberries for this season; and if, before doing so, he will consult smallholders and find out the costs of production under present conditions and so fix prices so that they will receive a profit to cover their outlay and weather risks.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Price discussions have already taken place with the growers' representatives and costs of production have been taken into account in the prices which I hope to announce very shortly.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
In order to avoid the evils of last year, will the Minister consult the direct representatives of the small growers, and not take only the word of the National Farmers' Union?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
I could not give such an undertaking.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
On a point of Order. This is very important. Is the Minister aware that last year the small growers claimed that they were not properly represented and were overruled by the big interests?
Mr Douglas Clifton Brown
, Hexham
That is not a point of Order.
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.
