Oral Answers to Questions — Fuel and Power – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 November 1947.
Mr Robin Turton
, Thirsk and Malton
12:00,
27 November 1947
asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has studied the Gibbons-Cellan-Jones patent system of upgrading of gas; and whether he will give an estimate of the increased benzole production that will result from the application of gas upgrading pipes to all existing coke ovens.
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
This system has been studied by my technical advisers, and I understand that the process is being examined further by the National Coal Board. With regard to the second part of the Question, I regret that I cannot give an authoritative estimate.
Mr Robin Turton
, Thirsk and Malton
Can the Minister say whether the estimated saving of seven million gallons of petrol is a probable result of this installation, and if so, will he reintroduce the basic ration when this system is adopted?
Mr Hugh Gaitskell
, Leeds South
That is the estimate made by the persons who have produced this process, but it certainly would not be nearly enough to restore the basic ration.
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.
