Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Mr. De la Bère:
asked the Minister of Food what steps he has taken in connection with the Government decision to allow an open general licensing system for imports, with effect from 5th October, to protect the interests of home producers so that they may produce more homegrown food whenever practicable.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated on Thursday, 29th September, that during the main season of home production certain horticultural products will revert to licensing controls. The items and periods for which the open general licence may be suspended are now under discussion between my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture who will consult with the producers.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
The home producer has had more help from this Government than he has ever had before.
Mr David Eccles
, Chippenham
Will the Parliamentary Secretary continue such help as the Government have given by allowing an open general licence for the purchase of feedingstuffs?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
That is another question.
Colonel Sir Alan Gomme-Duncan
, Perth
Does the Parliamentary Secretary intend consulting the Secretary of State for Scotland as well as the Minister of Agriculture?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
Yes, Sir.
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.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
