§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the, Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Germany, the United States of America, France, and Switzerland give Government aid for investigations in ceramics, clays, etc.; whether he is aware that, excluding coal and iron, the clay industries rank of very high importance; whether it has been brought to his knowledge that Stoke-upon-Trent is the natural centre for the clay industries, is in close 1335 touch with the pottery and clay industries, has a temporary laboratory partially equipped for the purposes of research and a small band of specially trained men, and that a considerable amount of valuable research work has been done there, despite the lack of equipment and of funds; whether he is cognisant of the amount of research work which is needed and which cannot be undertaken by individual manufacturers, and whilst this country has better fire-clays than, say, Germany, that our resources have not been properly developed, and so the demands of the gas engineers cannot be satisfied and the manufacture of cheap hard-paste porcelain to compete with the Continental manufacture cannot at present be entertained; and whether he will give favourable consideration to a Grant in Aid of such research work?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)I think this is a matter which should, in the first instance, be brought to the notice of the Development Commissioners.