§ SIR A. SPICER (Hackney, Central)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the provisions of Section 9 of The Census of Production Act, 1906, stipulating that the advisory committees should include persons engaged in as well as conversant with the conditions of various trades and industries, he has taken steps for the appointment of such advisory committees; by what process it is proposed to select the members; and whether it is intended to invite nominations from chambers of commerce in the principal industrial centres.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) A general committee has been appointed to advise upon the general scope of the census of production, and the lines upon which the information required is to be obtained. Steps are being taken to appoint other committees to consider the special requirements of particular trades, which will include leading manufacturers and representatives of trade associations. Committees for the building, iron and steel, cotton, woollen and worsted, engineering, shipbuilding, and boot and shoe trades are at present in course of formation, and in each case the leading trade associations have been invited to suggest members. The question of the appointment of further 1122 committees is under consideration, and a similar method of selection will be adopted in these cases.