Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 27 July 1983.
Mark Fisher
, Stoke-on-Trent Central
12:00,
27 July 1983
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future prospects for the ceramic and pottery industry.
Mr David Trippier
, Rossendale and Darwen
I believe the industry is well placed to take advantage of a pick-up in demand.
Mark Fisher
, Stoke-on-Trent Central
Is the Minister aware that the so-called "well placed" position has involved 25,000 jobs being lost and Britain becoming a dumping ground for cheap pottery goods from Malaysia and other far eastern countries? When will the Minister act to save a very lucrative and profitable industry from going down the drain?
Mr David Trippier
, Rossendale and Darwen
The hon. Gentleman should not assume that he has a monopoly of concern for the industry. I share that concern. The problems which the hon. Gentleman has outlined reflect the industry's difficulties during the recession. I do not underrate them, nor should the hon. Gentleman underrate the strength of the industry.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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.
