Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Sir Henry Legge-Bourke
, Isle of Ely
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Food what influenced his Department in making the changes of price for tallow in the autumn of 1948 and in September, 1949; how the prices before and after each change compared with world prices; and what was the effect after each change on the supplies of tallow in the United Kingdom.
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
Our buying prices for tallow are negotiated after taking into account the supply prospects. Owing to exchange difficulties there is at present no world price, and prices differ according to the source of supplies. As we make our purchases at different times from a number of countries, I regret that it is not possible to answer the third part of the Question.
Sir Henry Legge-Bourke
, Isle of Ely
Is it not a fact that the price being offered for Australian tallow was £50 to £60 above the American price, and that on devaluation the British price dropped by £30? Why was that?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
I could not agree.
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.
