HC Deb 04 July 1910 vol 18 cc1334-5
Mr. JOHN WARD

asked 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 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.