50. Mr. G. DOYLEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that many orders by home and foreign traders are at present being placed in countries outside Great Britain, and especially in the United States, by firms which in pre-war days used to deal almost exclusively with Great Britain; whether this is caused by the inability of British firms to manufacture the articles at the same cost of production as other countries; whether as a result many factories in this country are idle, or about to become idle, at a time when reconstructional work is calling for orders all over the world; and when His Majesty's Government will introduce such means for the reform of the existing economic policy of this country as will enable British manufacturers to maintain their competitive power in home and foreign markets?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am aware that to some extent a diversion of trade of the nature indicated has taken place, but I regret that as regards the last part of the question I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to a supplementary question, by my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham on Monday last.