Let $\Lambda$ denote the ring of symmetric functions in variables $x\_1,x\_2,\dots$ and with coefficients in $\mathbf{Q}$. Then $\Lambda$ is freely generated as an $\mathbf{Q}$-algebra by $p\_1,p\_2,\dots$, where $p\_n$ denotes the $n$-th power sum function $x\_1^n+x\_2^n+\cdots$. Let $\Delta^+$ and $\Delta^{\times}$ denote the $\mathbf{Q}$-algebra maps $\Lambda\to\Lambda\otimes\_{\mathbf{Q}}\Lambda$ determined by $\Delta^+(p\_n)=1\otimes p\_n + p\_n\otimes 1$ and $\Delta^{\times}(p\_n)=p\_n\otimes p\_n$ for all $n\geq 1$. Let $\mathbf{Q}\_+$ denote the sub-semiring $\{a\in\mathbf{Q}| a\geq 0\}$ of $\mathbf{Q}$.


Consider the following properties on subsets $S$ of $\Lambda$:


1. $S$ is a $\mathbf{Q}$-linear basis of $\Lambda$.
2. All finite sums and products of elements of $S$ are contained in the $\mathbf{Q}\_+$-linear span of $S$. (That is, the span is a sub-$\mathbf{Q}\_+$-algebra.)
3. The subsets $\Delta^+(S)$ and $\Delta^{\times}(S)$ of $\Lambda\otimes\_{\mathbf{Q}}\Lambda$ are contained in the $\mathbf{Q}\_+$-linear span of $S\otimes S = \{s\otimes s' | s,s'\in S\}$.
4. For all $s,s'\in S$, the composition $s\circ s'$ is contained the $\mathbf{Q}\_+$-linear span of $S$, where $\circ$ denotes plethysm.


These properties are satisfied if $S$ is the set of Schur functions or the set of monomial symmetric functions, for example. But the Schur functions give a smaller example in the sense that
they're contained in the $\mathbf{Q}\_+$-linear span of the monomial symmetric functions.


I have many imprecise questions about subsets $S$ satisfying these properties, but in the interest of fair play, I'll ask a yes/no one:



> 
> Are the Schur functions the smallest example? That is, if $S$ satisfies the properties above, does its $\mathbf{Q}\_+$-linear span contain all the Schur functions?
> 
> 
> 


(Apologies if this is standard, but I don't know much about Schur functions. I didn't find anything about it in Macdonald's book, and rather than emailing random experts, it's more fun to ask it here.) 



Are the Schur functions the minimal basis of the ring of symmetric functions with the following properties?
There is another simple set of symmetric functions fulfilling your properties 1 to 4: the set of products of power sums, 
$$
p\_1, p\_2, p\_1^2, p\_3, p\_1 p\_2, ...
$$
The convex cone they generate is not contained in the cone generated by the Schur functions. For instance, $p\_2=s\_2-s\_{1,1}$.


EDIT: and the Schur basis is not contained in the convex cone generated by the power sums: $s\_{1,1}=\frac{p\_1^2-p\_2}{2}$.


