§ 56. Mr. ANDERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether spelter used in the manufacture of cartridges has been advanced in price from £21 a ton last July to £115 a ton at the present time, an increase of over 500 per cent.; whether in the same period the price of the best finished iron in Staffordshire has advanced from £8 10s. to £12 12s. 6d. per ton; whether he will cause thorough investigation to be made as to whether attempts have been made by various interests to corner supplies and force up prices by means of price rings; and whether he will make public the facts as to the prices and profits realised by all the interests concerned out of the present crisis?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Pretyman)I am aware of the increase in prices to which my hon. Friend refers. The whole matter of the supply of materials for munitions is receiving constant and earnest attention, and all necessary steps will be taken to guard against any artificial enhancement of price.
§ Sir RICHARD COOPERIs it not a fact that last autumn a committee was specially appointed for the purpose of protecting the supply of spelter, and that the results were very unsuccessful from the munitions point of view, especially to the Admiralty? Would not the formation of a similar committee at the present time probably have the same beneficial result?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThat will be considered.