Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 November 1947.
Sir Herbert Butcher
, Holland with Boston
12:00,
10 November 1947
asked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the quantities of food that may be expected from Eire; and the prices paid for the various commodities.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Agreement has been reached in principle with the Eire Government about revised prices for agricultural produce. The new prices will be announced as soon as the necessary detailed schedules have been worked out. We hope for an early increase in the supply of fat cattle and meat from Eire. Larger supplies of other produce must depend on increased production, which may have to await an improvement in the world feedingstuffs position.
Sir Herbert Butcher
, Holland with Boston
In view of the recently announced cut in potatoes, is it proposed to import potatoes from Ireland?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Yes, Sir. We hope to import some seed potatoes immediately, but that, I am afraid, is all that Eire has to sell at the moment.
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.
