– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Mr Cyril Osborne
, Louth Borough
12:00,
8 July 1947
asked the Minister of Food how much extra food subsidy will be incurred by the recently-announced reduction in price of bacon, butter and cheese at a time when the Government are having to pay more for these commodities; and what is the present approximate total cost of food subsidies.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
The additional subsidies which it is estimated will be incurred during the financial year 1947–48 are: Bacon, £6¼ million; butter, £4 million; cheese, £6½ million; In answer to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Stockport (Wing-Commander Hulbert) on 7th July.
Mr Cyril Osborne
, Louth Borough
Are those figures relative to the recent changes in these three commodities, and is there any check placed on the Ministry of Food by the Treasury as to how high these subsidies can go in total?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
As I think the House has been told on many occasions, these figures are in accordance with the Government's policy of stabilising the prices of food in this country.
Sir Godfrey Nicholson
, Farnham
Would it be possible for the hon. Lady to give an answer to the last part of the Question?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
I would remind hon. Members that the answer—which was given only yesterday—is £392 million.
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.
