§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received any Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether he proposes to perpetuate this Committee?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to answer this question. As regards the first and second parts, the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee, appointed by the Shipping Controller in December, 1916, held weekly meetings, and kept records of their proceedings, and their recommendations were dealt with departmentally in the ordinary course. As regards the third part of the question, I would remind my lion. Friend that the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee was merged in the larger Shipbuilding Council, which was appointed by the Admiralty Controller in November last. I gave particulars of the duties and composition of the Shipbuilding Council in reply to a question in the House on the 13th December last. The members of the old Advisory Committee gave their services free, and those members of the present Shipbuilding Council who are not serving within the Department also give their services free. There are, therefore, no expenses to the State in respect of the Council other than those which are ordinarily incurred by the responsible Government Department in the ordinary course. The meetings of the Council are held at the Admiralty. As regards the last part of the question, there is no intention, so far as I am aware, of abolishing the Shipbuilding Council.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Rubber and Tin Exports Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, 1319W taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe Rubber and Tin Exports Committee was set up in January, 1915, under the chairmanship of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who is still chairman, for the purpose of advising on all questions relating to the export of rubber and tin from the United Kingdom and from British Possessions, these commodities being on the list of articles the export of which is prohibited except under licence. It is not, therefore, an ordinary Committee of Inquiry, and no formal Report has been made on its work. Members of the Committee attend the office every day for the purpose of dealing with the numerous applications and other matter referred to them. And special meetings of the whole Committee are held whenever necessary. No change has taken place in the personnel of the Committee during the last six months. The present annual cost of the Committee is about £800, but this does not include rent, rates, taxes, printing, postage, and stationery, as services in respect of these items are rendered by the Office of Works, Stationery Office, and General Post Office The Committee is to he continued.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received any Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Shipping Control Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; what are the terms of reference of this Committee; and whether he proposes to perpetuate this Committee?
§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYI have been asked to reply to this question. The Shipping Control Committee is part of the organisation of the Ministry of Shipping, and does not make separate Reports. There is no intention of discontinuing the Committee, which involves no separate charges on the Exchequer. During the last six months the Committee has met 106 times, and in that period the only change in its personnel is the appointment of Sir Alan Anderson, Controller of the Navy, vice Sir Eric Geddes.
1320W
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Beer and Spirit Restrictions Advisory Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period: what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Committee in question was appointed to advise and assist the Board of Customs and Excise in the performance of their duties and exercise of their powers under the Intoxicating Liquor (Output and Delivery) Order, 1917, so far as they relate to wine and spirits. The Committee sits continuously; its personnel has not been altered. Any expenses incurred form part of the ordinary expenditure of the Board, and the appointment of the Committee involved no additional expense to the State; its continuation is necessary.
§ Mr. BILLINGasked the Prime Minister if lie has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the British Mineral Resources Advisory Committee; how many sittings this Committee has held within the last six months; whether any changes have been made in the personnel of this Committee during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Committee, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Committee is to be continued?
§ Sir W. EVANSThe British Mineral Resources Advisory Committee was appointed in March, 1917; four meetings of the full Committee have been held during the past six months, and there have been no changes in its personnel. A Report on the work of the Committee up to the present date is in course of preparation. The Committee has no fixed accommodation or staff, and. beyond the cost of the necessary printing and stationery, its work involves no charge on public funds. The Committee will be continued.
1321W