§ 12. Mr. MANVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the two Scottish steel mills which principally supply the steel plates required for the manufacture of motor chassis frames are now controlled by a shipbuilding combine, which may utilise the products of these mills for the manufacture exclusively of plates required for shipbuilding; that the motor vehicle industry, which even at present is obtaining but much smaller quantities of these plates than is required, may be placed in the position of having to close many works with corresponding unemployment; and will he state what steps he proposes to take to prevent such a condition arising which would particularly affect Coventry, the workpeople of which depend so largely on the motor vehicle industry?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am aware of the facts in the cases of the two concerns referred to in the first part of the question, and my attention has also been called to the adverse effect of a shortage of steel plates on the motor industry. I have been in communication with the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers on the subject, and have every reason to believe that the importance of an equitable distribution of the output of steel plates is fully recognised by the manufacturers.
§ Mr. MANVILLEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of rationing?
§ Sir R. HORNEI should enter very reluctantly upon the question of rations. If I remember aright the attitude of all the manufacturers in the House, their 10 previous opinion has been directly against any form of Government control. What I find to-day is a recrudescence of the old idea of control and rationing on the part of people for all the things they consume, but always of decontrol of the things they produce.