§ Mr. Hepworthasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increasing volume of legislation providing for the rationalisation of the principal industries of this country, he will consider the desirability of rearranging the organisation of his own Department so as to ensure that an adequate number of higher officials shall be able to specialise in the problems of each of these industries; and of arranging for sub divisions of his Department to deal with the problems of the principal industries with which his Department has to deal, such as iron and steel, shipping, coal, cotton, etc.?
§ Mr. StanleyThe Board of Trade is already organised generally on the lines1136W suggested by my hon. Friend. The Secretary for Mines is in charge of a separate Department dealing with coal mines, with a sub-department for petroleum; the Mercantile Marine Department deals with all matters relating to shipping; and other industries are dealt with in the Industries and Manufactures Department. In all these Departments provision is made for an adequate staff of administrative and specialist officers, and the numbers and gradings are adjusted from time to time to meet the varying requirements of the work.