61. Mr. F. HALL (Dulwich)asked the Prime Minister if there are any representatives of the Colonies on the Committee of Imperial Defence; if not, what opportunity is afforded to the Committee of ascertaining the views of the Colonies on the matters coming before them; and if it is proposed to take steps with a view to establishing a permanent committee or other body containing representatives of the self-governing Colonies to deal with all matters affecting Imperial defence, so as to avoid friction arising through the adoption of measures which do not have regard to the special knowledge of local conditions which can only be possessed by the Colonial Governments themselves?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe only Member of the Committee of Imperial Defence is the Prime Minister, who summons to attend its meetings such persons as he thinks fit. As regards the second part of the question, Dominion Ministers, when visiting this country, are in accordance with arrangements made at the last Imperial Conference invited to attend meetings of the Committee. Since May, 1911, twenty-one Ministers of the 1492 Dominions have attended meetings. The views and intentions of His Majesty's Government with regard to the third part of the question were recently published in Cd. Paper 7347.