§ Mr. FELLasked the Prime Minister the names of the three Commissioners for the reduction of the National Debt who meet to transact the business of the Commission, and who are empowered by the Act 58 Geo. III., c. 66, to transact such business on behalf of the whole body of Commissioners; and how such business is transacted if the three Commissioners never meet?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question—
§ Mr. FELLOn a point of Order. Do you not consider, Sir, the Prime Minister should answer a question relating to the administration of one of the Departments?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)It has nothing to do with me.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf you can obtain the information from the Department you had much better get it direct from them.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe names of the National Debt Commissioners were supplied to the hon. Member on the 6th instant, and the Statute referred to authorises any three of them to act on behalf of the whole body. It is the practice for the Secretary and Comptroller-General to embody in the form of a Minute 1353 any transaction requiring the authority of the Commissioners, and to obtain the signatures of three of them before proceeding in the matter.
§ Mr. FELLMay I submit that no answer has been given to my question. I asked the names of the three Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt who meet to do the business of that body. Three is a quorum, and without that they can do no business.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI pointed out that the Secretary and the Comptroller-General obtain the names of any three of them.
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIf the hon. Gentleman had listened to the answer he would have understood that any business required to be transacted was embodied in the form of a minute and that the signatures of any three Commissioners were obtained to that minute.
§ Mr. FELLasked the Prime Minister if the proceedings of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt are now governed by the Act 26 Geo. 3, c. 31; and, if so, how the proceedings to be heard before such Commissioners are transacted and entered in proper books, as provided by such Act, if a quorum of the Commissioners does not meet from time to time to transact business?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe Act 26 Geo. 3, cap. 31, to which reference is made, is repealed, with the exception of Sections 14 (in part), 15, and 16, which are still operative as regards the National Debt Commissioners. There are no formal meetings of the Commissioners, the business being transacted in the manner indicated in my answer to the last question.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask if the portion which is not repealed is not that part of the Act which provides that the Commissioners must meet, especially with regard to making appointments?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI think the hon. Gentleman had better put any questions down about those three particular sections which he wishes to ask.
§ Dr. HILLIERMay I ask if these Commissioners never meet?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI answered, in reply to a question, "not within my memory."