Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 April 1948.
Mr. Scott-Elliot:
asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that greatly increased quantities of barley are required for feeding livestock at home; and whether he will stop exports to Eire.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
The quantity of barley exported to Eire is relatively small, and is used entirely for brewing beer for re-export to this country. In view of the importance of maintaining adequate supplies of beer, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to stop this export.
Mr Francis Bowles
, Nuneaton
Will my hon. Friend arrange to send a little more barley to brewers in the West Midlands who should, but who do not, supply a sufficient quantity of beer? Is my hon. Friend aware that in the West Midlands we are 4 per cent. below the rest of the country?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
If my hon. Friend goes into the percentages, he will find that the West Midlands are a long way above the pre-war cosumption figure.
Mr Francis Bowles
, Nuneaton
But they are 4 per cent. below the rest of the country.
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.
