§ 45. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister how many members there are in the present Cabinet; whether the Chief Secretary for Ireland is a member; and whether he is prepared to consider the reduction of the size of the Cabinet by pooling Departments of a somewhat similar character under a single Cabinet Minister, who would represent all these Departments in the Cabinet, 1251 similarly to the case of the suggested Minister of Defence representing the three fighting Services?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)The present Cabinet consists of 19 members, of whom the Chief Secretary for Ireland is one. The suggestion contained in the last part of the question seems to me to be quite impracticable.