§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any knowledge of a ring of armour plate manufacturers; if so, whether their operations are confined to Great Britain or are international; and whether such ring is known to have penalised, by imposing prohibitive prices for armour plates upon British shipbuilding firms contracting for the building of warships who may be outside the ring?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Admiralty are aware that certain price arrangements between armour plate firms do exist, but I am unable to say whether such an 1076 arrangement constitutes "a ring" within the meaning of the hon. Member's question or whether such prices are applied beyond Great Britain. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the fact that all the armoured plate for British war vessels has to be purchased from certain firms and that that constitutes a ring?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI know of no reason which makes its necessary that all the armour plate for British war vessels should be purchased from certain firms.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that if there is any arrangement in reference to prices in Great Britain it extends to the United States as well?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have asked the Civil Lord to make a most careful study of the allegations which are made on this subject, and it is a matter of the most extraordinary complexity, dealing with every kind of trade discount and trade arrangement. I think it will be months before he is able to express an opinion on the subject.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked whether there is any stipulation in the contracts for the building of warships for the British Navy that firms contracting shall purchase armour plates from certain firms manufacturing armour plates?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe reply is in the negative.