§ Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that no representative of the Government attended officially during any part of the discussion of the Margarine Bill in Committee B; and if he will use his good offices with the Ministers responsible for the various Departments of State to ensure that the Departments concerned shall be officially represented in Grand Committee in future?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have been informed that no official representative of the Government attended the Grand Committee referred to by the hon. Member. It is certainly my wish that the Departments concerned in the subject-matter of a Bill shall be officially represented when it is under consideration by a Grand Committee. I believe that there was some doubt in this particular case which (if any) of the Departments was so concerned.
§ Mr. FLYNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that ample notice was given to the two Departments concerned, that on the first day Ministers were telephoned for, and on the second day they found it impossible to attend?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of that.