§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state the names of the persons who will constitute the Committee to inquirein to the organisation of the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies; whether he will undertake that some experienced commercial men will be placed upon the Committee; and whether he will undertake that the House of Commons shall have an opportunity of expressing an opinion upon the terms of reference to the Committee before the terms of reference are finally settled.
§ COLONEL SEELYThe composition of the Committee is as follows:—The Right Honourable Sir Francis Mowatt, Sir Ralph Moor, formerly High Commissioner for Southern Nigeria; H. J. Gibson, Esq., Assistant Comptroller and Auditor-General; Rowland Bailey, Esq., Comptroller of Stationery Office; Stanley M. Leathes, Esq., Second Civil Service Commissioner; C. Alexander Harris, Esq., a principal Clerk in the Colonial Office, and my noble friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has requested me to act as Chairman. The terms of reference are settled and are as follows:—"To report upon the best method of selecting the clerical and technical staff for the office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies, and particularly to consider the conditions of tenure, the scale of payment of salaries and pensions, and how far arrangements in that office are in accord, or can be brought into harmony, with the principles governing the Civil Service." My noble friend authorises me to say that he will favourably consider the propriety of adding to the Committee a gentleman with special commercial experience.
§ Mr. CLAUDE HAYAre these terms of reference finally settled or is the Government willing to accept suggestions upon them?
§ COLONEL SEELYI am afraid not. I am afraid the terms are settled, but I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that they are of wide scope.
§ * MR. REESWill the position of the Crown Agents as intermediaries between the Colonial Office and the commercial world come within the terms of reference?
§ COLONEL SEELYThis is a matter to be decided by the Committee when they meet.
§ COLONEL SEELYNo, Sir, not at all. If my hon. friend will read the terms of reference as to the conditions of tenure he will see that that is not so.