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Tuesday, 8 November 1938

Mr JAMES (HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES) - In view of the appointment of Senator Allan MacDonald to the position of Assistant Treasurer, does the Prime Minister intend to retain the services of the honorable member for Macquarie (Mr. John Lawson) as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer ?

Mr LYONS - The honorable member for Macquarie still remains in his position.

Mr FORDE - What are the functions of the inner Cabinet and what powers are given to it that are not given to the remainder of the Cabinet?

Mr LYONS - The seven senior Ministers constitute a policy committee and no powers whatever are given to members of that committee that are not given to every other member of the Cabinet. Their duties are to investigate policy questions and to make recommendations to the Cabinet, members of which, as a whole, take final responsibility for all matters dealt with by the Cabinet and dealt with by the policy committee. There is no inner group.

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