Departmental Officials

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Food – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 February 1954.

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Photo of Sir Waldron Smithers Sir Waldron Smithers , Orpington 12:00, 1 February 1954

asked the Minister of Food the number of personnel under his jurisdiction on 31st December, 1951, and 1952, and at the latest available date, respectively.

Minister

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.