Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Mr Alfred Bossom
, Maidstone
12:00,
8 July 1947
I can see the Minister's point, but would he in future place in the Statistical Digest the price which anyone has to pay for an English pound in the places I have named, according to the bank and also in the black market, because there is a great reflection on our credit with the rest of the world if that is allowed to go on without an answer from the Chancellor.
The Chancellor - also known as "Chancellor of the Exchequer" is responsible as a Minister for the treasury, and for the country's economy. For Example, the Chancellor set taxes and tax rates. The Chancellor is the only MP allowed to drink Alcohol in the House of Commons; s/he is permitted an alcoholic drink while delivering the budget.
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.
