§ 70. Mr. BECKETTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many commissions and committees of inquiry have now been set up by the present Government; what is the total membership; and how many of this number are known to be supporters of the Government?
§ Mr. WILLIAM WHITELEYThe appointment of 37 commissions and committees has been announced since the present Government took office. The total membership is 327. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Prime Minister on the 11th November last.
§ Mr. BECKETTIs my hon. Friend aware that the Prime Minister, in a speech he made just before taking office, claimed that one of the virtues of a minority Government was that its own supporters would—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENBefore any one of the 327 members was appointed to these committees was it ascertained whether he was sound on the miner's strike?