§ 45. Sir A. POWNALLasked the Prime Minister whether he will place for consideration upon the agenda of the Imperial Conference a proposal that there should be a permanent secretariat to consider Empire questions in the intervals between conferences?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENProposals on the lines of that indicated in the hon. Member's question have been discussed at earlier Imperial Conferences, and as he is, no doubt, aware, a similar suggestion has been included in a report recently drawn up by the Federation of British Industries. As, however, the Prime Minister intimated on 25th March in reply to a question by the hon. Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) the agenda for the Imperial Conference is now under discussion between the Governments concerned, and I could not undertake to say at this stage what particular items will eventually be included.
§ 47. Sir K. WOODasked the Prime Minister the date when the forthcoming 752 Imperial Economic Conference will be held; and whether he can state, generally, the nature of the trade questions which will be included in the agenda of the Conference?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply which the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for East Willesden (Mr. D. G. Somerville) on 25th March, from which it will be seen that the opening date of the Imperial Conference has been fixed for 30th September. As regards the second part of the question, the Prime Minister is not yet in a position to make any statement as to the economic subjects likely to be discussed. In reply to a previous question, I said that this matter was being discussed between the various Governments concerned.