– in the House of Commons at on 13 March 1929.
Mr Eugene Ramsden
, Bradford North
asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has yet received the resolutions of the Imperial Forestry Conference, held at Melbourne last October, in regard to the future of the Imperial Forestry Institute at Oxford; and whether he will give an undertaking that the funds necessary to carry on this institute will be forthcoming?
Lieut-Colonel Leo Amery
, Birmingham Sparkbrook
The full Report of the Conference has not yet been received, but I understand that it is being distributed by the Australian Forest Authorities. I have, however, just received an advance copy of the Summary Report and Resolutions through the Standing Committee of the Empire Forestry Conference, and I am giving the question of the future of the imperial Forestry Institute my earnest consideration.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
