§ MR. MACIVERasked the President of the Board of Trade, If, before the proposed Royal Commission is appointed, it is intended to give the House an opportunity of considering whether there is any sufficient warrant, either by statute or Order in Council, for the continued existence of the Board of Trade as at present constituted; whether the ex-officio appointment originally held by the Speaker of the House of Commons of Ireland, as well as the other appointments originally held by gentlemen specially connected with the trade of Ireland, have been filled up, and by whom, or if Ireland is without representation at the Board of Trade; and, if the proposed Royal Commission will inquire into the constitution and functions of the Board of Trade generally, including the exercise of patronage by the Department, or if it is intended that the inquiry shall be confined to the Marine Department alone?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINIn reply to the third Question of the hon. Member, I have to refer him to the answer made by me to the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr. C. M. Palmer) on June 28, when I said that the inquiries of the proposed Royal Commission would include the administration of the Marine Department of the Board of Trade. In reply to his second Question, I have to refer him to previous statements, to the effect that the ex officio members of the Board of Trade have never been summoned during the present century. The list of such members includes all Privy Councillors in Ireland holding office in that country; but as the Committee never meets, the representation is purely formal. No quorum is required by the Order in Council; and, therefore, the 222 act of one member of the Board—namely, the President — is sufficient; and the business of the Office is conducted, as in other Offices, by a single Minister of State, aided by a Parliamentary Secretary and a permanent Staff. There is nothing to prevent the President from being of either nationality; and, as a matter of fact, one of my Predecessors in recent years was an Irishman. As regards the first Question, I may remind the hon. Member that he had a Motion on the subject on the Paper, which I came down to the House to answer; but the subject did not attract a sufficient number of Members to make a House. I am unable, on behalf of the Government, to offer the hon. Member any facilities for the discussion of his Motion.
MR. MAC IVERasked whether the House was not "Counted out" at the instigation of an hon. Member opposite (Mr. Lee)?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINMost certainly not at my instigation; there is not the slightest foundation for that allegation.