§ 6. Mr. A. A. SOMERVILLEasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the establishment of the Oversea Settlement Board?
§ 7. Mr. DUNCANasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is now able to announce the personnel and terms of reference of the Oversea Settlement Board?
Mr. M. MacDONALDI am glad to be able to inform the House that the Oversea Settlement Board has now been constituted. The three official members are the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (my right 223 hon. Friend, the Member for the Chorley Division of Lancaster), who will be Chairman of the board; Mr. E. G. Machtig, C.M.G., O.B.E., an Assistant Under-Secretary of State at the Dominions Office, and Mr. A. P. Water-field, C.B., a Principal Assistant Secretary at the Treasury.
§ The following have agreed to serve as the unofficial members:
- The Dowager Marchioness of Reading.
- Dr. W C. S. Adams (Warden of All Souls' College, Oxford).
- Mr. George Gibson (a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress).
- Mr. H. J. Mitchell (President of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.).
- Brigadier-General J.J.H. Nation, C.V.O., D.S.O., who was formerly a Member of this House.
§ The functions of the board will be to advise the Secretary of State upon specific proposals for schemes of migration within the Empire and upon any matter relating to oversea settlement which may be referred by him to the board. I anticipate that the first meeting of the board will be held at an early date.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEWill the board be prepared to initiate as well as consider comprehensive plans for Empire development?
Mr. MacDONALDThey can consider any proposals which come into their minds. They have an initiative of their own.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISWhat personal knowledge have the members of this board of conditions in various parts of the Dominions? Would it not be wiser to have members who have a personal experience of the life and work in the Dominions?
Mr. MacDONALDI understand that a majority of the members have a personal experience of life and travel in the Dominions.
§ Mr. LUNNI presume that the constitution and personnel of this board may be discussed on the Estimates of the right hon. Gentleman's Department?
§ Mr. HENDERSON STEWARTHow does the board propose to take evidence? 224 What opportunities will be afforded them for taking evidence?
Mr. MacDONALDThat is a matter for the board themselves, and probably they will consider it at their first meeting.
§ Mr. NEIL MACLEANHave the board any power with regard to questions of employment and administration?