§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEY (Paddington, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to a recent official Report by Mr. Rufus Fleming, Consul of the United States at Edinburgh, in which, dealing with the question of importing American wall paper into this country, he states that for some years the wall paper industry of the United Kingdom has been in the hands of a trust which regulates production and controls prices, and which only permits wholesale dealers to import foreign wall paper on condition that it does not undersell the trust productions; whether he can confirm or deny the accuracy of this Report; and whether, if 1248 the Report is accurate, he will consider the advisability of taking steps to protect consumers.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE, Carnarvon Boroughs)I have seen the Report to which my hon. friend refers. The Wall Paper Manufacturers, Limited, inform me that they are not aware of any restrictions as to the prices at which imported wall papers may be sold.