§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether the introduction of a Bill to establish a bureau of a Minister of Commerce and Industry, on the lines of the Bill introduced last session by the late Government, forms part of the programme of the present Government; and, if so, whether provision will be made in the Bill to give the proper 1348 minister the status of a Secretary of State, and pay him an annual salary of £5,000 a year; and when the Bill is likely to be introduced.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo, Sir. His Majesty's Government have come to no decision in the matter.
§ SIR JOHN RANDLES (Cumberland, Cockermouth)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware there is amongst the commercial classes in this country a very large consensus of opinion as to the urgency and importance of such a minister being appointed.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am aware of that.
§ *MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)May I ask if the matter is under active consideration?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know what "active consideration" means. I am afraid that there are a good many questions like this that are constantly under our view, but sometimes they are dormant.
§ *MR. R. DUNCANMay I say that "active consideration" means consideration intended to lead to action?