Minister of Supply
The Minister of Supply was the minister in the British Government responsible for the Ministry of Supply, which existed to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to the national armed forces. The position was campaigned for by many sceptics of the foreign policy of the National Government in the 1930s before finally being created in 1939.
The wartime Ministry of Aircraft Production was amalgamated into the Ministry of Supply in July 1945.
In the post-war governments, the Ministry became increasingly unpopular with economy-minded Conservatives, who objected to it as a redundant middle-man. This point of view was shared by Reginald Maudling, who served as the Minister under Anthony Eden and refused to continue in office under Harold Macmillan; unfortunately for Maudling, Macmillan had served in a junior role in the Ministry and believed in it. Nevertheless, he agreed to wind up the Ministry in 1959.
Minister of Supply 1939–1959
| Name | Portrait | Entered office | Left office | Political party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie Burgin | 14 July 1939 | 12 May 1940 | Liberal National | ||
| Herbert Stanley Morrison | 12 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | Labour | ||
| Sir Andrew Duncan | 3 October 1940 | 29 June 1941 | National | ||
| Lord Beaverbrook | 29 June 1941 | 4 February 1942 | Conservative | ||
| Sir Andrew Duncan | 4 February 1942 | 26 July 1945 | National | ||
| John Wilmot | 3 August 1945 | 7 October 1947 | Labour | ||
| George Strauss | 7 October 1947 | 26 October 1951 | Labour | ||
| Duncan Sandys | 31 October 1951 | 18 October 1954 | Conservative | ||
| Selwyn Lloyd | 18 October 1954 | 7 April 1955 | Conservative | ||
| Reginald Maudling | 7 April 1955 | 16 January 1957 | Conservative | ||
| Aubrey Jones | 16 January 1957 | 22 October 1959 | Conservative | ||