Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 3 Chwefror 1947.
Mr Gerald Williams
, Tonbridge
12:00,
3 Chwefror 1947
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now make a statement as to what steps are to be taken during 1947 to derequisition and return to their owners all smallholdings at present requisitioned, and to assist those smallholders who are without sufficient implements to obtain them in order to recommence activities on their holdings.
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
In view of the serious food situation, I am unable to give an undertaking that any smallholdings at present requisitioned will be restored in 1947 to owners who were dispossessed for bad farming.
Mr Gerald Williams
, Tonbridge
Is not the Minister aware that they were dispossessed because of the compulsory orders for cropping, which they could not carry out, and that if they were given the tools they could produce more food on these holdings?
Mr Thomas Williams
, Don Valley
No, Sir, I am only aware of the fact that they were dispossessed because of bad farming.
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.
