Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Mr Philip Piratin
, Stepney Mile End
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Food what price is being paid for the maize, barley and oats now imported from the Soviet Union; and how this compares with prices of grain offered to us by other countries.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
It would not be in the public interest to disclose at present the price paid for the coarse grains being imported from the U.S.S.R.
Mr Philip Piratin
, Stepney Mile End
Can the Parliamentary Secretary answer the second part of the Question, in view of the fact that the President of the Board of Trade stated a few weeks ago that the price of grain from Russia is exceedingly high and is much higher than the prices of other countries, and it is important to get the evidence?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
Perhaps the hon. Member will await until the Trade and Navigation Returns are published at the end of November.
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.
