§ 56. Major HUNTasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the Report of the sub-committee on certain branches of British industry, to the effect that in some branches of industry at least Germany has been accumulating large stocks during the War, and that there is a general fear that immediately after the War this country will be flooded with German and Austro-Hungarian goods, sold at almost any price, and that 2901 the fear of this prevents firms from laying out capital; and whether, in view of this evidence, he could now let the country know at once that sufficient import duties will be imposed after the War to prevent our industries from being swamped by surplus goods from abroad and our working people deprived of employment or compelled again to accept starvation wages?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first part of the question, I understand that the Committee mentioned this statement as an unproved assumption. With regard to the rest of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on the 22nd May.
§ Major HUNTWhy does the right hon. Gentleman say that it is an unproved assumption?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI did not say that. I said the Committee mentioned the statement as an assumption which was not proved.