§ Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any estimate has been made as to what, if any, saving in salaries and establishment charges would be effected if the Ministry of Transport should cease as a separate Ministry and its functions be transferred to the Board of Trade, the Department of Overseas Trade should cease as a separate Department, and the necessary duties in London be undertaken by the Board of Trade, and the Mines Department should cease as a separate Department and its functions revert to Departments originally responsible for them?
§ Mr. McNEILLEstimates of such savings were made by the Geddes Committee, but the amounts were not given separately in the Committee's Report. No later figures are available. It should not be assumed in any case that measures such as those suggested can be taker without detriment to public interests.