§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACH (Bristol, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has appointed a Departmental Committee to inquire into the condition of the Mercantile Marine Fund, and the mode of levying the Light Dues; whether he will state the Order of Reference to such Committee, and the names of the Members; and whether any proposal to relieve the shipping interest of Light Dues at the cost of the Exchequer will be excluded from the inquiry of the Committee?
§ MR. BRYCEYes, Sir; I propose to appoint such a Committee. If my right lion. Friend will repeat his question in a few days, I trust to be able to state to the House the Order of Reference and the names of the gentlemen who have been asked to serve. The answer to the third paragraph is in the negative.
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHDoes that mean that the question will be excluded?
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHWill there be any representative of the Treasury on the Committee?
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will the Order of Reference include the relief of the shipping interest, seeing that the Board of Trade now takes a large portion of the Mercantile Marine Fund?
MR. GIBSON BOWLESAt present the Board of Trade takes a very large sum out of the Light Dues levied on shipping. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider, in connection with the terms of Reference, if the Mercantile Marine Fund cannot be relieved of that involuntary contribution to the Board of Trade?
§ MR. BRYCEThat question has been carefully considered, and when the terms 561 of Reference are made known it will be seen that they are wide enough.
§ SIR A. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)Will the incidence of the Light Dues be left as an open general question?
§ MR. BRYCETo make any further statement would be to state the terms of Reference, and that I cannot do now. The terms are very wide, as the Order of Reference will show.