asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the absence of Departmental imaginative fore-thought has clogged war preparations and commercial effort; and will he set up a non-political panel of persons trained in the prudent expenditure of money for the development of commerce to advise what action should be taken in anticipation of events arising from the war?

I do not accept the reflection contained in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, and I see no necessity for the establishment of a further body, additional to those already established, for the survey of economic and commercial problems thrown up by the war.