HC Deb 28 January 1902 vol 101 cc1113-4
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he is aware that 11 members of the present Cabinet hold among them no fewer than 18 company directorships, and whether, seeing that in some instances Ministers of the Crown are directors of public companies between whom and the Departments of State there are contracts of large pecuniary interests, he will take any, and, if so, what steps to secure in the present administration a separation of the offices of Minister of the Crown and company director, as was the case in the last Government of Mr. Gladstone or in that of Lord Rosebery.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As regards the greater part of this Question, I have answered it many times.

Mr. SWIFT MACNEILL

Not since the Cabinet was reconstructed.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

Yes, only last session. There is one sentence, however, which I do not understand, and which I believe is new. It suggests that "in some instances Ministers of the Crown are directors of public companies between whom and the Departments of State there are contracts of large pecuniary interests." I know of no such directors.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

There is the Hematite Company, of which the Duke of Devonshire is a director.