Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 February 1954.
Sir G. Lloyd:
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer if he is now in a position to allocate sufficient foreign exchange to allow of the import of Canadian newsprint to meet the proper needs of the newspaper industry.
Mr Reginald Maudling
, Barnet
Newsprint supplies are under discussion between my noble Friend the Minister of Materials and representatives of the newspapers. I should not wish to prejudice the decision on any proposals that may be made as a result of these discussions, but the balance of payments situation will not permit any large increase in the immediate future in imports of newsprint from any source.
Mr. J. T. Price:
Can the Minister say what are the proper needs of the newspaper industry in view of our experience of the way the extra space was used after the last increase in newsprint?
Mr Reginald Maudling
, Barnet
The proper needs of the industry are determined by the proper requirements of the consumer.
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.
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.
