§ 46. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister whether the Cabinet have lately had before them the question of winding-up the Department of Shipping Control?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe subject has been under the consideration of the Government. No one is more anxious to bring the Ministry to an end, as soon as this can be done without financial loss, 1001 than the Shipping Controller himself, and it will be wound up as soon as possible.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the Leader of the House hold out any hope that this Department will be finally wound up before Christmas?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not wish to give any particular time. It might, perhaps, be useful to point out how little economy there is in this kind of suggestion. As a matter of fact, the staff is almost entirely occupied in dealing with claims, which are still coming in. The cost is something like £6,000 a month. Last month the difference between claims received and claims admitted on examination was more than £1,000,000. It would not be economy, therefore, to save this £6,000.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIs it not a fact that a very large part of the current expense of the Department is paid out of capital moneys?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not think it matters in the least where the running expense comes from, if the result be an actual saving to the nation.