13. Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will strengthen the Committees on profiteering in the confidence of the persons whose actions are the subject of inquiry, of this House, and of the country by appointing to each Committee a member of the legal profession and a Member of this House, and by making a Regulation that no person who is a director or official of a trade combination shall be a member of such Committees?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf as I assume, the hon. and gallant Member refers to the Sub-Committees appointed by the Central Committee, several Members of this House and of the legal profession are members of the Central Committee, and where desirable their services will be utilised on the Sub-Committees, provided they are prepared to serve. With regard to the last part of the question, there would seem to be no objection to a director or official of a trade combination assisting in the investigation of some other business undertaking in which he is not personally concerned, and a Regulation on the lines suggested by the hon. and gallant Member would, I fear, deprive the Committees of material assistance in conducting their inquiries.