§ 17. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Secretary to the Admiralty is a member of the Board; and, if so, when this change was first brought about?
§ Mr. AMERYFor all practical purposes, both the Parliamentary and the Permanent Secretary have always been members of the Board, taking part in the Board meetings and having definite administrative spheres assigned to them by the First Lord under the Order in Council defining the constitution of the Board. Although they are not Lords Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral, this has never affected the practical position, as may be seen from the fact that the earliest Order in Council (of 1869) defining the constitution of the Board placed the Civil Lord under the direction of the Parliamentary Secretary.
§ Commander BELLAIRSMay I take it then that the position is exactly the same as it was formerly—that no change has been made?