Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 April 1948.
Mr Colin Thornton-Kemsley
, Kincardine and Western
12:00,
19 April 1948
asked the Minister of Food what quantity of last year's crop of swedes did his Department contract to buy from Scottish farmers, and at what price per ton; why were these contracts subsequently cancelled; and what is the total cost involved in respect of these cancellations so far as Scotland is concerned.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
About 7,000 tons of swedes were contracted for in Scotland at £5 10s. per ton ex-farm. They were bought as part of an emergency reserve. This, fortunately, was not needed; but the contracts have not been cancelled, except at the growers' option. We are giving growers the chance of being released from their contracts, or buying back the swedes before we resell them ourselves. Final returns for all sales have not yet been received, so I cannot yet say what the cost of this "insurance" measure will be.
Mr Colin Thornton-Kemsley
, Kincardine and Western
Is it likely to be £2 10s. a ton as a free gift to the farmers, allowing them to keep the swedes, for that is my information?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
No, Sir, I could not say what the final financial outcome will be, but there will certainly be some cost—and we always knew there would be, if the swedes were not needed, as I am very glad to say they were not.
Sir John Crowder
, Finchley
Were these meant to take the place of potatoes? Did the right hon. Gentleman think the people of this country would buy swedes instead of potatoes?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
Yes, Sir, if there were not any potatoes.
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.
