20. Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, in consequence of the uncertainty which manifests itself in, this country in relation to wages and cost of materials, large contracts extending over periods of time can only be tendered for by British manufacturers with a conditional clause providing for fluctuations in wages and cost of materials; whether foreign customers greatly prefer quotations at fixed prices covering a contract period; whether American manufacturers are in a position to quote fixed prices and are, as a matter of fact, doing so; whether, in these circumstances, the capacity of the British manufacturer to successfully compete for foreign contracts is considerably 804 prejudiced; and whether His Majesty's Government will, without delay, promulgate a national trade policy which would enable British manufacturers to control the home market and compete with reasonable probability of success in foreign markets?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am aware of the very great difficulties by which British manufacturers arc faced and the Government in its transitional trade policy has taken steps which experience shows not to have been unsuccessful to give them some security in the home market until the conclusion of Peace should open the markets of the world. Many of the difficulties, however, arise from the destruction of credit resulting from the War and can only be gradually overcome as production in all parts of the world regains momentum. As regards the last part of the question, I hope that it will be possible to bring forward proposals at an early date.