§ 45. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to define the duties of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, respectively; to state whether any, and, if so, what, staff will be allotted to each Minister; and where these two Ministers and their staffs will have their headquarters?
§ The Prime MinisterThe responsibilities of the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence will be broadly the same as those of his predecessor. A statement of the duties of the Minister was set out in paragraph 47 of the Statement on Defence presented to Parliament in March, 1936 (Cmd. 5107). The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will answer for the Minister in this House, and will assist him generally. He has been appointed a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence, Chairman of the Principal Supply Officers Committee, Chairman of the Ministerial Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence dealing with Man-Power, and President of the Oil Board. Both the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence and the Chancellor 1366 of the Duchy of Lancaster will be assisted by the staff of the Office of the Cabinet and Committee of Imperial Defence, which includes the staff of the Supply Board. The staff of this office has recently been strengthened. The offices of both Ministers and of the staff referred to, are at Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, S.W.1.
§ Mr. HicksAre we to understand from the Prime Minister's answer that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has been made a member of the Committee of Imperial Defence?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.