Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 14 July 1947.
Major Ernest Bramall
, Bexley
12:00,
14 July 1947
asked the Minister of Food why dollars are expended on tinned shrimps from the U.S.A.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Canned shrimps began to be imported privately from the U.S.A. under an open general licence. As soon as it became evident that a small but appreciable amount of dollars were being expended in tills way the open general licence was withdrawn as from 14th May.
Mr. Bramal:
While thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him why, in view of the fact that any purchases from the United States must mean the spending of dollars, a licence was granted?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
The answer is that it was done under a general licence which covered a lot of other things as well, and included a few canned shrimps.
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.
