Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 10 November 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
10 November 1947
asked the Minister of Food how many potato bags are owned by his Ministry; if he is aware that some of the bags are unsuitable for use with potatoes; and if he will only supply bags when merchants bags are not available.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
My Department owns approximately 15 million potato bags. Every care is taken to issue sound bags, but if the hon. Member has received a complaint I will gladly have it looked into. To try to use merchants' branded bags for Ministry-owned potatoes would prevent quick and even distribution.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Does the Minister realise that State interference with distribution causes frustration, shortages and delays, and consequent loss to the taxpayer; and is he aware that many merchants' bags which could be used and which would be a saving of bags to the Ministry of Food, are not being used?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
No, Sir.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
I will send the right hon. Gentleman a letter about it.
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.
