Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 May 1947.
Mr William Shepherd
, Bucklow
12:00,
12 May 1947
asked the Minister of Food what is the allocation of sugar for tea for factory workers and for those working in offices, respectively.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Heavy workers' category A canteens receive one-fifth of an ounce of sugar for each hot drink served and other works and office canteens one-eighth of an ounce. Where there is no canteen, industrial workers can get one ounce per head per week for communal tea making but none is allowed for office workers.
Mr William Shepherd
, Bucklow
Can the Minister explain why there is this difference between the allocation to office workers and that to industrial workers where canteens are not provided?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
On the whole, industrial workers are favoured in all food matters because it is considered that it is more important to give them increased nourishment.
Mr William Shepherd
, Bucklow
Does the Minister seriously suggest that office workers ought not to be allowed a ration of tea and sugar and that industrial workers should be given a ration?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
We should like to allow the ration to both, but I think it is reasonable to give the industrial worker prority.
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.
