Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 October 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
27 October 1947
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he will make a statement concerning the ploughing back of part of a crop of buckwheat in Suffolk, valued at £2,640; and who bears the loss.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for the University of London (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 24th October. I am not aware of the grounds for the statement that the crop was valued at £2,640, but any loss sustained will be borne by the grower.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Is there any appeal against ridiculous decisions by the agricultural executive committees which result in losses to the farmer over which he has no control—the decision may be against his advice—and has the farmer any means of recovering those losses?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
This happens to be sub judice. The case will ultimately go to the court and the farmer will have ample opportunity of stating his own case.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
May I ask what kind of court?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
A police court.
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.
