Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 November 1947.
Mr Edwin Gooch
, Norfolk Northern
12:00,
10 November 1947
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the serious position with regard to plough fittings in North Norfolk; and if he will assist one of the largest agents with headquarters in this area, who has outstanding orders for over 1,050 dozen points, to meet these orders.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
I have received representations from Norfolk and from other counties about the shortage of ploughshares and points. If my hon. Friend will let me have the name of the agents in North Norfolk he has in mind, I will have inquiries made into their special difficulties. For information as to the steps we are taking to increase supplies of shares and points generally, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) and to other hon. Members on 27th October.
Mr Robin Turton
, Thirsk and Malton
Is the Minister aware that notwithstanding the reply he gave a fortnight ago, the points situation is no better in the North of England? May I send the right hon. Gentleman my list, too?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
It may very well be that the position is not a lot better, but the output is about double what it was before the Question was put down.
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.
