Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Major Sir Duncan McCallum
, Argyll
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Food if he will consider transferring the powers and functions of his Department for the distribution of herring in the home market to the Herring Industry Board.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering, in co-operation with the Fisheries Ministers and the Herring Industry Board, further measures to increase consumption of herrings in the home market.
Major Sir Duncan McCallum
, Argyll
Would it not be more efficient if the Herring Industry Board, which deals with klondyke herrings, also dealt with home market distribution?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
My Department protects the consumer, and we are not prepared to relinquish our powers.
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.
