Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 7 November 1949.
Sir Gifford Fox
, Henley
12:00,
7 November 1949
asked the Minister of Food the number of gallons of milk used in the production of plastics and other commercial uses, respectively, during the last 12 months or any convenient period; what percentage this represents of the amount used for human consumption; and if he will divert the milk used for industrial purposes to provide an increased supply to the housewife.
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
No liquid milk is provided for the commercial production of plastics and similar industrial products. Seventy per cent. more milk than before the war is sold for liquid consumption and whenever supplies are available they are used in baby food, rationed cheese and other essential foods.
Sir Gifford Fox
, Henley
Are we to understand from that reply that milk of any description, after being processed for cheese, is used for plastics? Are plastics a byproduct of cheese?
Mr Evelyn Strachey
, Dundee
No, Sir. Except for certain medical purposes, no milk is used for these purposes at all.
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.
