Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 November 1956.
Mr Arthur Palmer
, Cleveland
12:00,
27 November 1956
asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that it is the largest single industrial consumer, what special steps he is taking to ensure that the steel industry receives supplies of fuel oil adequate to maintain output and avoid possible unemployment.
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
Arrangements are being made for the steel industry to obtain additional supplies of creosote pitch to make up for the 10 per cent. reduction in their supplies of fuel oil. It is expected that by this means output can be maintained and unemployment avoided.
Mr Arthur Palmer
, Cleveland
Is the Minister aware that this is a question of particular concern to those who represent steel-making constituencies? Will he give the House an assurance that his right hon. Friend will watch the position of which we speak rather more closely than usual?
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
My right hon. Friend will certainly watch the position for the future, but it should be made plain that the supply of creosote pitch should make good entirely the cut in fuel oil.
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.
