§ LORD HENRY BRUCE (Wilts, Chippenham)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of meeting a widespread feeling in this country by appointing a Minister for Agriculture?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The 355 Government are well aware that a widespread feeling exists in favour of the creation of a Minister for Agriculture; and, with a view to meet that desire as far as it is possible to do so, without adding unnecessarily to the coat of the Public Service, a Committee of the Privy Council on Agriculture has been constituted, of which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has been appointed Vice-President, and a Department has been created to which has been transferred the duty of preventing, as far as it is possible to do so, the importation of disease into this country. Steps have been taken to collect and diffuse information on questions of importance relating to agricultural interests. The Government will not lose sight of the matter, which they regard as one of serious importance.
§ MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)asked, whose duty it would be to answer Questions?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe duty will be undertaken by the President of the Local Government Board.