Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 31 October 1949.
Mr David Eccles
, Chippenham
12:00,
31 October 1949
asked the Minister of Supply to what extent the impending reductions in expenditure in his Department will affect any of his establishments in the neighbourhood of Corsham, Wiltshire.
Mr George Strauss
, Lambeth North
A policy of vigorous economy is being followed in the administration of all Ministry of Supply establishments, but it is not expected that this will lead to any immediate reduction in our establishment at Corsham.
Mr David Eccles
, Chippenham
If the Minister should have occasion to reconsider that decision, will he remember that an undertaking was given by the Minister of Aircraft Production, now the Chancellor of the exchequer, that those who were in the underground factory would be looked after?
Mr George Strauss
, Lambeth North
I will certainly look at that undertaking.
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.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
