HC Deb 09 July 1953 vol 517 cc1483-5
46. Mr. Jay

asked the Prime Minister what are the present duties of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement made on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 24th March. It has not been customary to detail the functions discharged by senior Ministers without Departmental duties, except in special circumstances.

On this occasion, it can be said that, since the appointment of the Lord President of the Council as Acting Foreign Secretary, some of the duties normally performed by him have been transferred to the Chancellor of the Duchy.

Mr. Jay

Can the Chancellor say whether it is with the advice and approval of the Chancellor of the Duchy that the Minister of Food landed the meat trade in confusion during last week?

Mr. Butler

All I can say about the Minister of Food is that, if anybody else can do as good a job as he has been doing, they are welcome to it.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

For the better information of hon. Members and the general public, will the Chancellor say who is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster? Who occupies that post?

Mr. Butler

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the published list of Government appointments.

Mr. H. Morrison

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House some indication of the duties of the Chancellor of the Duchy, and say whether his employment is reasonably full-time or not?

Mr. Butler

The post of Chancellor of the Duchy has been held by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton), and, if the right hon. Gentleman wishes to know what the duties are, I suggest that he should apply to his right hon. Friend.

Mr. Jay

Would I be in order in reminding the right hon. Gentleman that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is Lord Woolton?

Mr. H. Morrison

May I ask whether it is the intention of the right hon. Gentleman, in his temporary elevation, to treat the House of Commons even worse than the Prime Minister did when he was here?

Mr. Butler

The answer to that is "No, Sir."