asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider reconstituting the Committee of Imperial Defence.

No, Sir. There have been important changes in the constitutional relations between the various parts of the Commonwealth since the Committee of Imperial Defence was established in 1904; and in the conditions of today other methods of Commonwealth consultation and co-operation in defence are more effective and appropriate.

Does not the Prime Minister agree that when we are engaged in this very important re-armament programme, it might be worth while considering reconstituting something like the Committee of Imperial Defence, particularly having in mind that he would have on it leaders of the Opposition, to whom some confidential information about the programme might be of service?

There was an occasion, or a period, in which there was a Leader of the Opposition on it, but if the hon. Gentleman will study the composition of the Committee of Imperial Defence, he will see that it is not really very suited to present conditions, especially from the point of view of Imperial co-operation.

The Prime Minister will find, if he looks at the record, that Mr. Balfour, at the time he served with the Liberal Government on the Committee of Imperial Defence, was not Leader of the Opposition.

That is quite right. I think he was only a Member of the Opposition. He was not Leader.