Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 November 1947.
Mr Robin Turton
, Thirsk and Malton
12:00,
10 November 1947
asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that there were 300,000 tons of Argentine barley available for the purchase on 1st August, 1947; and how much of this exportable surplus has been bought by the British Government.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Yes, Sir. 300,000 tons of Argentine barley was available for purchase last August, and in August His Majesty's Government bought 300,000 tons.
Mr Robin Turton
, Thirsk and Malton
Could the Minister say when that is being shipped?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
It is being shipped gradually over a period with our wheat shipments and our maize shipments from the Argentine, though these are by no means as fast as we could desire.
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.
