§ MR. DAVID THOMASI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he is aware of the feeling among commercial men that the Board of Trade should be placed in a position in no respect inferior to that of other Departments of State, and that the Minister in charge of the Department should be given the status of a Principal Secretary; and if in view of the fact that no opportunity has been afforded since 1899 of discussing in Committee of Supply matters relating to the Board of Trade, he will set down Vote 8 of Class 2 on an early one of the allotted days.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not admit the distinction which the hon. Gentleman attempts to draw between one Cabinet Minister and another. I do not think here is any foundation in fact for it. As regards the latter part of the Question, I would point out that he is labouring under a mistake. The whole of June 13th last was devoted to the Board of Trade Vote, and a division was taken upon it.