§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what arrangements are in contemplation for the discharge of the duties of the Postmaster General during the absence on active service in South Africa of the Duke of Norfolk, K.G.; and whether during the absence of the Duke of Norfolk there will be a return to the old practice of appointing to the headship of the Postal Department a Minister with a seat in the House of Commons.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Duke of Norfolk has resigned.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAs to the second paragraph.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot answer that.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir.
§ SIR J. LENG (Dundee)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Postmaster General is about to proceed to South Africa; if so, in what capacity and for what length of time he is to be absent from the country; whether there is any precedent for the Minister of an important Department thus leaving his official post; and by whom his ministerial duties will be discharged during his absence.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have already answered this question.