§ 47. Mr. BECKETTasked the Prime Minister how many committees of inquiry have been set up by the present Government; how many members are there in all on these committees; and how many of these are members of the labour, trade union, or co-operative movements?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have sent my hon. Friend a list of commissions and committees other than those whose membership is confined to members of 1523 the Government or Government Departments. These commissions and committees have all been announced in the Press. As regards the last two parts of the question, my hon. Friend will see that the subjects and nature of these inquiries have been very varied and in every case the committees have been composed so as to promise the very best possible guidance.
§ Mr. BECKETTWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question as to the numbers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere have been three Royal Commissions and 15 other commissions or committees.
§ Mr. BECKETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an overwhelming majority of the personnel of those committees is composed of those who are opposed to the policy which he has been preaching for the last 20 years?
§ Major McKENZIE WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a majority of the Fishery Committee is composed of members of his own party?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of that fact. The object of the Government has been, and will continue to be, to appoint to those commissions people who in some way or another have special authority either as judges upon the evidence to be delivered or as experts upon the subject of the inquiry.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELCan that observation be applied to the Fishery Committee?