asked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Munitions Expenditure 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 the perpetuation of this 'Committee is proposed?

The Munitions Expenditure Committee was a small Departmental Committee consisting of the heads of the various financial Departments of the Ministry with one or two co-opted members. It was superseded in the early part of,1917 by a somewhat different form of organisation, and consequently during the past six months it has held no meetings.

asked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Advertising Advisory Committee (New War Loan); 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, in-eluding salaries, rent, rates, taxes, printing, posting, and stationery; and whether the perpetuation of this Committee is proposed?

The Committee referred to in the question came to an end in February, 1917.

asked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Sugar Distribution 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 continue this Committee?

I have been asked to reply. There is no Sugar Distribution Committee

asked the Prime Minister if lie has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Empire Settlement 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 the perpetuation of this Committee is proposed?

I would suggest that the hon.. Member should obtain and read the Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 8672, which was laid in August last.

asked the Prime Minister if he has received a Report as to the progress and recommendations, if any, of the Commercial Intelligence (Board of Trade) 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 the perpetuation of this Committee is proposed?

The period of office of the Advisory Committee to the Board of Trade on Commercial Intelligence, which was appointed in 1913, terminated in October last, and the Report of its proceedings has been published as a White Paper (Cd. 8815). The expenses of the Committee have been included in the Annual Votes for the Board of Trade and cannot be separately distinguished. As stated in the recently published Memorandum with respect to the reorganisation of the Board of Trade (Cd. 8912), it is intended that there shall be an Advisory Council attached to the Department of Commerce and Industry which shall be representative of the commercial and manufacturing interests of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Committee on Shipping and Shipbuilding has handed in its final Report; if so, whether the Report is signed by all the members; and will it be published as soon as it is printed?

The first part of the final Report of the Shipping and Shipbuilding Committee, signed by all the members, has been presented to the Board of Trade. When the whole Report has been received the. question of publication will be considered.