§ Mr. BILLINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Cotton Control Board; how many sittings this Board has held within the last six months; whether any changes. have been made in the personnel of this. Beard during this period; what is the annual cost to the State of this Board, including salaries, rent, rates, taxes printing, posting, and stationery; and whether this Board is to be continued?
Sir A. STANLEYThe Cotton Control Board is an executive body set up in July last to administer certain Orders made by the Board of Trade under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the two principal Orders dealing with supplies of raw cotton and restriction of output. No formal Report has been made. Thirty-five meetings of the Board have been held since its appointment; but, in addition, a large number of meetings of Sub-committees have been held, and some members of the Board are daily in attendance at the offices. Three members have been added to the Board since it was constituted. The present cost of the Control Board in respect of salaries, expenses of members, and postage, is about £100 a week. The offices. were provided by the Office of Works and printing and stationery by the Stationery Office, and I have no information as to the cost of these items.