§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what anniversary of the Board of Trade is currently being celebrated by his Department; and in what manner.
§ Mr. ButcherThe year 1986 is the 200th anniversary of the Order in Council under which the Committee of Privy Council for Board of Trade was created in its present form. To commemorate the occasion the Department is being honoured by a visit from Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. In addition, the celebrations include a service of commemoration which took place on 28 February, a meeting of the Board of Trade, a programme of lectures related to the work of the Department, and the publication of the history of the Board of Trade, copies of which will be placed in the Library.
§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when was the most recent meeting of the Board of Trade; who attended; what was the purpose of the meeting; and what business was transacted.
§ Mr. ButcherThe last meeting of the Board of Trade, when the President, the right hon. Henry Labouchere and the Parliamentary Secretary, the right hon. Earl Granville were present, was in 1851. There was no formal agenda; day to day business of the Board of Trade was discussed.