Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 July 1947.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
12:00,
14 July 1947
asked the Minister of Food why cargo space on the ships of the British Channel Islands Steamship Company is not being used for bringing potatoes to this country during the present shortage.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Whenever possible, cargo space on the ships of the British Channel Islands Steamship Company has been used to bring potatoes to this country, but the Channel Islands crop is now finished, and so I am glad to say, is the shortage.
Colonel Leonard Ropner
, Barkston Ash
Is the Minister aware of the general belief in the Channel Islands that the arrangements made by the agents for the stevedoring and chartering of ships from the Channel Islands were far from satisfactory? As this is a matter which affects other markets, will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to satisfy himself that everything is in order?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Certainly, Sir, but I would point out that we succeeded in moving the whole crop.
Mr Nevil Beechman
, St Ives
Is the Minister aware that considerable quantities of potatoes are now rotting in the ground in West Cornwall?
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.
