Part of 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
Is the Minister aware that he is adopting the technique of the Chancellor of the exchequer? Is he aware that the distribution of potatoes would be far more efficient if it was allowed to rest in the hands of experienced dealers and, in consequence, all the expense of these bureaucrats would be saved?
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
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.
