§ * MR. DAVID THOMASI beg to sk the President of the Board of Trade, whether the Archbishop of Canterbury is still a member of the Board of Trade, if he can state what is the full official title and designation of the Board, and the most recent occasion upon which the Department has concerned itself with foreign plantations.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURBy an Order in Council dated August, 1786, the Archbishop of Canterbury, together with certain distinguished Officers of State, was nominated an ex officio member of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed to consider all matters relating to trade and foreign plantations, and I am not aware that the Orderin Council has ever been abrogated. The hon. Member will find the official definition of the term Board of Trade in section 12 sub-section 8 of the Interpretation Act 1889. The jurisdiction as to what were described as foreign plantations has, of course, gradually passed into the hands of the Colonial Office. No precise date can be given, but the Board of Trade when desired still advise the Colonial Office upon matters relating to Colonial trade and legislation
§ * MR. DAVID THOMASWhy is this preference in the matter of trade given to the Archbishop of Canterbury over his brother of York?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order.
§ * MR. DAVID THOMASThen may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is prepared to take a short step in the direction of the abolition of the Board and towards its disestablishment, by suggesting the retirement of the Archbishop from the Board.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order.