Oral Answers to Questions — Food Supplies – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 2 Ebrill 1947.
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
12:00,
2 Ebrill 1947
asked the Minister of Food what accommodation is being provided for native workers and their families who are to be employed in connection with the East Africa Groundnut Scheme; and if he will give an assurance that no materials are exported from England for this purpose which are required for the domestic housing programme, or for electricity generating station buildings.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Dr. Edith Summer-skill):
For the time being tents are being used, but eventually the African workers and their families will occupy cottages built mainly of local materials. If any question of competition arose, priority would certainly be given to electricity plant and housing in the United Kingdom.
Mr Frederick Erroll
, Altrincham and Sale
Does the hon. Lady realise that the kind of building materials which have already left this country for East Africa are needed at home?
Dr Edith Summerskill
, Fulham West
If the hon. Member will specify the materials, I will be pleased to look into it.
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.
