Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Supply – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 1 February 1954.
Mr George Chetwynd
, Stockton-on-Tees
12:00,
1 February 1954
asked the Minister of Supply when it is proposed to produce the Belgian F.N. rifle in this country; and what orders have been placed for its purchase from Belgian sources.
Mr Duncan Sandys
, Wandsworth Streatham
It is still too early to give a precise answer to the first half of the hon. Member's Question. With regard to the second half, apart from a few samples, no orders have as yet been placed.
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.
