§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, he proposes to take to fill up the vacancy in the constitution of the Board created by the fact that for some time past one of its members, namely, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, has not been available; and, also, whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation to amend the constitution of the Board by substituting for his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury a person of commercial and business experience?
Mr. BUXTON,after keeping open for more than a century the place on the Board of Trade formerly filled by the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, I should be sorry now to close the door to his possible return to the Board. I should also greatly regret losing the Archbishop of Canterbury as a colleague.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the very last alteration of the constitution of the Board was made as long ago as the year 1786, and in view of the changed conditions of trade and commerce which have arisen since then, does he not think it time to reorganise it on a business basis?
Mr. BUXTONTo some extent it has been. The old Board, of course, remains as it was, but in the last few years, thanks largely to my predecessor, the Home Secretary, an advisory Board, consisting of business men and men interested in commercial relations, has been added to the Board as an Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYCan we have their names?
§ Mr. DAVID THOMASCan the right hon. Gentleman say why this preference is given to the Archbishop of Canterbury over his brother of York?
Mr. BUXTONI have had such a short time in my Office that I have had no time to go into the question.