Ministry of Food Records

Records of the Ministry of Food, 1917-1920, including The National Food Journal, 1917-1920; Ministry of Food Weekly Bulletin1918-1920; records of the Usk Food Control Committee, 1918-1919.

The first Ministry of Food (1916-1921) was formed on 22 December 1916. It was empowered under the New Ministries and Secretaries Act 1916 to regulate food supply and consumption, and took steps to encourage food production. As its functions were depleted, the Ministry was dissolved on 31 March 1921, whilst the few remaining duties were divided between the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board of Trade. A second Ministry of Food (1939-1955) was established under an order of Council of 8 September 1939, and functions from the Board of Trade were returned to the Ministry. The Ministry became a permanent Department of State under the Ministers of the Crown, Transfer of Functions Act 1946.The Ministry of Food was merged with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1955 to become the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. During the First World War, central government took measures to ensure the continuity of food supplies to the British public. One of these measures was the establishment of Area Food Control Committees to implement food rationing and prevent evasions of food restrictions. The Usk Food Control Committee was active between 1918 and 1919.

Arranged into the following: The National Food Journal; Ministry of Food Weekly Bulletin; Other Publications; Usk Food Control Committee.

No restrictions

Source not recorded

Compiled by Richard Burman for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Gwent Record Office, The Ministry of Food, catalogue; NDAD Website : (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), viewed 10 February 2006.

A hard copy of the catalogue is available in Gwent Record Office.

Usual copyright regulations apply.

All records deposited at Gwent Record Office have been retained.

Accruals are not expected