Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Mr Maurice Orbach
, Willesden East
12:00,
8 July 1947
asked the President of the Board of Trade what official notification he has received of the ban on importation of textiles imposed by the Argentine Central Bank; and, in view of our large purchases in that country, what steps he proposes to take to balance our trade.
Mr John Belcher
, Sowerby
Reports have been received from His Majesty's Embassy at Buenos Aires of the recent suspension of exchange permits for imports from all sources of textiles and other consumer goods. We share the concern of the United Kingdom exporters at this sudden blow to the restoration of our export trade with Argentina and His Majesty's Ambassador has already made our views known to the Argentine authorities.
Hon. Oliver Stanley
, Bristol West
Would the hon. Gentleman say on what date this ban was first imposed?
Mr John Belcher
, Sowerby
I am afraid that I cannot, but I believe that it was within the last four weeks.
Mr Maurice Orbach
, Willesden East
Can the Minister give a list of the different items upon which the ban has been imposed?
Mr John Belcher
, Sowerby
Not without notice.
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.
