§ MR. HOUSTON (Liverpool, West Toxteth)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that orders for over 100,000 tons of rails have recently been placed in the United States of America by British-owned Argentine railways; whether he can state what quantities of rails and steel sleepers for British-owned Argentine railway companies have recently been purchased from German and Belgian manufacturers; and whether he can state the reasons for these railway companies placing their orders in foreign countries instead of in Great Britain as hitherto.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I have no official information to the effect stated, but I have heard rumours of some arrangements made by an international rail syndicate for the division of the world's market for rails, whereby 351 I believe, inter alia, British rail-makers were to be secured (with certain reserves) from foreign competition in the markets of the British Empire, and the American manufacturers in those of North and South America. I am unable to say how far any such arrangement is actually carried out, or whether Argentine railway companies have recently purchased rails and steel sleepers from German or Belgian manufacturers.
§ MR. HOUSTONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if there is official information to the effect that British railmakers have agreed with the American railmakers to allow orders for Argentine rails (on account of English companies) to be secured by the Americans, in consideration of their refraining from sending rails to this country and selling them at a price with which British makers could not compete; and, if there is such or any information in connection therewith, will he lay the same upon the Table.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) I must refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his previous Question on the same subject.