– in the House of Commons at on 17 December 1941.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Chislehurst
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who is the economic adviser to the Chatham House Reconstruction Committee; what salary he is paid; and has he access to any confidential documents?
Mr Richard Law
, Kingston upon Hull South West
The Committee of Reconstruction of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House is a private body and no question arises of any salary being paid or any confidential documents supplied by His Majesty's Government. I understand that this Committee has no economic adviser, but that it is advised by an Economic Group under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Member for West Lewisham (Mr. Brooke).
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Chislehurst
Cannot my hon. Friend tell me the name of the economic adviser, and how can he give service to the Council if he has not access to official documents?
Mr Richard Law
, Kingston upon Hull South West
This body is not in any way under the control of the Government. It is a purely private body, but such information as we have suggests that there is no economic adviser.
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.
