Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Sir Edward Keeling
, Twickenham
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Food how much the 28-page catalogue of Civic Restaurants costs; and what is its purpose.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
The cost of this Leaflet is 3d. per copy. Its purpose is to provide cyclists, hikers, and other holiday makers, with information about the location of British Restaurants, so that they will know where they can obtain good cheap meals. It follows the promise of my right hon. Friend in July, 1948, that he would publish such a list.
Sir Edward Keeling
, Twickenham
I wanted to know how much it cost the taxpayer to produce it. As very few people eat in a Civic Restaurant, except in the places where they live or work, is it not rather foolish to spend money on such a catalogue?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
The hon. Member must realise that private enterprise does just the same thing—the rambling associations, the cyclists' touring clubs and the Trust Houses. As far as the taxpayer's money is concerned, this will pay for itself, because already 5,000 copies have been issued and 3,500 bought.
Mr Somerville Hastings
, Barking
Can my right hon. Friend say where this useful document can be obtained?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
At the Stationery Office.
Sir John Crowder
, Finchley
Who is responsible for issuing this catalogue? It is not stated on the document, which merely says it is printed by His Majesty's Stationery Office. Is the right hon. Lady's Department responsible?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
That is why we answered the Question.
Sir John Crowder
, Finchley
It is very good of you.
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.
