Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 November 1947.
Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper
, Middlesbrough West
12:00,
24 November 1947
asked the Minister of Works what is the quantity and value of Belgian bricks imported during 1946; what is the quantity and value of these imported into this country during 1947 up to the nearest convenient date; and what is the policy with regard to future purchases.
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
During 1946 approximately 50 million English size bricks and 8 million Belgian size bricks were imported from Belgium. During the first eight months of 1947 a further 40 million English size and 4½ million Belgian size were imported. The prices of these bricks were 50s. per 1,000 for Belgian sizes, and from 68s. to 70s. 3d. per 1,000 for English sizes, f.o.b. Antwerp. The contracts under which these imports were made were completed in August last, and no further Government contracts are in contemplation.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any English bricks were exported to Belgium during this period?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
Not without notice.
Wing Commander Geoffrey Cooper
, Middlesbrough West
Will private builders' merchants be permitted to place contracts for the import of Belgian bricks to this country?
Mr Charles Key
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
So far as I am aware there is no restriction on a private merchant importing bricks from Belgium.
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.
