Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 August 1947.
Mr James Murray
, Spennymoor
12:00,
11 August 1947
asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that lorry loads of perishable foods such as plums, apples and cauliflowers are being refused in large city markets with the view of keeping up prices; that producers are being compelled to carry tons of these goods back to their warehouses unsold; and if he will take action so that the public will have the opportunity to purchase these foods at open market prices and avoid this waste of transport, labour and produce.
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.
