§ MR. C. E. PRICE (Edinburgh, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the omission of any reference in the last Report of His Majesty's Consul-General in Belgium as to the condition of employment, wages, and the cost of living, and the relation these bear to the trade of the country; whether he is aware that such information on Germany is supplied by His Majesy's Consul at Frankfort; and if he will issue instructions to all Consuls to supply such information in their Reports.
§ MR. RUNCIMANMy right hon. friend is aware of the facts stated. For the reasons mentioned in the reply given to the hon. Member on 26th August last, he is doubtful how far general instructions to Consuls with regard to this matter are practicable; but the attention of His Majesty's Consular Officers in some of the more important industrial centres abroad will be directed to the matter.