Oral Answers to Questions — Armed Forces – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 April 1947.
Mr Niall Macpherson
, Dumfriesshire
12:00,
2 April 1947
asked the Minister of Defence what is the value at cost, including final cost under lend-lease settlements, of R.N., Army and R.A.F. stocks, buildings and fixtures in India for the handing over of which negotiations are, at present, proceeding between His Majesty's Government and the interim Government of India.
Mr Albert Alexander
, Sheffield, Hillsborough
The stores and other assets are dispersed throughout India, and the quantities to be handed over have not yet been determined. It is not, therefore, possible to estimate the amount which will be brought into any future negotiations on this matter with the Government of India.
Mr Niall Macpherson
, Dumfriesshire
Would the Minister of Defence, in settling the amount that is to be paid by the Indian Government for these stores and fixed assets, treat all this as a part of the general settlement of the debt to India?
Mr Albert Alexander
, Sheffield, Hillsborough
I think that question should be put to the Chancellor of the exchequer.
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.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
