§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Board of Agriculture has never met; whether the business of that body is left entirely to permanent officials, an unelected body; and whether he could see his way to dissolve the present Board and to reconstruct another, composed of not less than fifteen members and drawn from all parties represented in this House, all of whom shall be unpaid, and whose duties shall be to assist the Minister of Agriculture and who shall meet not less than once per week.
§ MR. ASQUITHIt is the fact that this Board has never met. I believe the same thing may be said of the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAnd the Treasury Board.
§ MR. ASQUITHNo.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIt only meets once a year.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe political head of the Department for the time being is responsible to Parliament for all its proceedings. I do not think that the arrangement suggested by the hon. Gentleman would tend to administrative efficiency.