HC Deb 15 November 1917 vol 99 cc583-4
91. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the mass of valuable information acquired by the Board of Trade and their Advisory Committee in the course of administering the Trading with the Enemy (Amendment) Act, 1916, and the winding-up of enemy companies and firms under the .Act, he will appoint a small Committee to collate and classify this information, with a view to developing British industries in this country and preventing the penetration and capture of such industries by Germans in the future?

Mr. WARDLE

Steps are being taken to collate the information as to methods adopted by enemy companies and firms derived from the administration of the Trading with the Enemy Acts. I hope to have the benefit of the assistance of my hon. Friend the Member for the Camlachie Division in the matter.

Mr. BUTCHER

Will the result of those investigations be made public?

Mr. WARDLE

I cannot answer that question.