Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 February 1959.
Mr Arthur Champion
, Derbyshire South East
12:00,
2 February 1959
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the standard of the certifying officers appointed under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme, 1958–59; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Joseph Godber
, Grantham
Yes, Sir; the standard of these officers has been very satisfactory. Complaints have been few and far between.
Mr Arthur Champion
, Derbyshire South East
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that certification of fat cattle in some markets is becoming a standing joke and that it is said to be the owner and not the beast which is graded? Is he aware that at a recent market a Grade II fat beast was sold for 151s. and a Grade I beast for 136s.? Does not that suggest there is something wrong?
Mr Joseph Godber
, Grantham
I shall be very glad if the hon. Member will let me have the information so that I can go into it fully. However, that is not a good comparison. Generally speaking, the standard is high, but I should be very glad to look into details of cases brought to my notice.
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.
