§ MR. DISRAELIsaid, he wished to make an inquiry of the Government as to an alleged appointment which he had been informed by a high authority had been made. It was understood that the First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister had offered to an hon. Gentleman to promote him to the office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade, and it would be interesting to the House to know whether that office had been vacated, and when the new appointment took place.
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONsaid, he was not aware that the office in question had been vacated, nor had he had any knowledge of the fact which the right hon. Gentleman had mentioned. He had heard it stated as a rumour that the present 1298 Vice-President of Trade was considering a proposal which had been made to him, but his information did not extend further.