§ 16. Colonel GRETTONasked the President of the Board of Trade when the Government Committee on Trade and Industry was set up under the chairmanship of Sir Arthur Balfour; who are the members of the Committee; what duties were assigned to this body; what have been the results achieved; and when it is expected that the duties of the Committee will terminate?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer is a long one, and my hon. and gallant Friend will, perhaps, agree to my circulating it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Colonel GRETTONCan the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether this Committee entails any expense to the Treasury?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like notice of that question I think it is probable that the travelling expenses of members attending the Committee are paid.
§ Follonwing is the answer to the main Question:
§ The Committee on Industry and Trade was set up by the Prime Minister on 28th July, 1924. The Committee was originally composed as follows:
- Sir Arthur Balfour, K.B.E. (Chairman),
- Mr. John Baker, M.P.,
- Sir William Beveridge, K.C.B.,
- Mr. Henry Boothman,
- Mr. J. T. Brownlie, C.B.E.
- Mr. W. T. Charter,
- Mr. C. T. Cramp,
- Mr. Hugh Dalton, M.P., D.Sc.
- Sir Harry Goschen, K.B.E
- Mrs. M. A. Hamilton.
- Mr. F. A. Hargreaves.
- Sir Norman Hill, Bart.,
- Sir John S. Hindley, Bart.,
- Mr. David Landale,
- Sir W. Clare Lees, O.B.E.,
- Mr. P. J. Pybus, C.B.E.,
- Mr. Arthur Shaw,
- Sir Allan Smith, K.B.E.,
- Sir Hubert Llewellyn Smith, G.C.B.
§ Sir William Beveridge, Mr. Hugh Dalton and Mr. P. J. Pybus have since found it necessary to resign, and the following additional members have been appointed:
- Sir William Ashley, Ph.D. (appointed 2nd December, 1924),
- Sir W. Peter Rylands (appointed 30th April, 1925).
§ The Committee was appointed to inquire into the conditions and prospects of British industry and commerce, with special reference to the export trade, and to make recommendations in regard thereto.
§ The Committee has already issued the following volumes of information with regard to various aspects of its terms of reference:
- Survey of Overseas Markets.
- Survey of Industrial Relations.
- Factors in Industrial and Commercial Efficiency (being Part I of a Survey of Industries).
- Transport Development and Cotton Growing in East Africa.
§ These volumes have been very well received, and found to be of practical value to the industry and trade of the country.
§ The Committee is now preparing its fourth volume, the Survey of Industries, for publication.
§ The Committee hopes to issue its Report (the preparation of which is already in hand) towards the end of the current year.