Oral Answers to Questions — Pensions and National Insurance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 March 1956.
Mr Fenner Brockway
, Eton and Slough
12:00,
26 March 1956
asked the Minister of Supply why new Army clothing material is being supplied to factories as dusters when it could be used for a more useful purpose.
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
The Ministry of Supply does not cut up surplus Army clothing material before disposal, and it does not supply dusters to private factories. I am unable to trace the origin of the sample which the hon. Member has kindly sent me.
Mr Fenner Brockway
, Eton and Slough
Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that that reply is not good enough?
Mr Emanuel Shinwell
, Easington
Just dust in the eyes.
Mr Fenner Brockway
, Eton and Slough
This Question has been on the Order Paper for a month now. I have sent the hon. Gentleman the material. Is it not the case that it is good, new material? Is it not a scandal that, when prices for such material are so high, the Ministry should be sending such material through a dealer as dusters to factories?
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
Although the Question may have been on the Paper for some time, the sample was received only on Friday last, and in that short time it has not been possible to trace the origin of the sample.
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 order paper is issued daily and lists the business which will be dealt with during that day's sitting of the House of Commons.
It provides MPs with details of what will be happening in the House throughout the day.
It also gives details of when and where the standing committees and select committees of the Commons will be meeting.
Written questions tabled to ministers by MPs on the previous day are listed at the back of the order paper.
The order paper forms one section of the daily vote bundle and is issued by the Vote Office
