§ 20. Mr. BRIANTasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the quantity of cement exported to foreign countries during the last six months?
§ Sir R. HORNEDuring the six months ended 31st October, 1920, 158,245 tons of British cement were registered as exported to foreign countries.
§ Mr. BILLINGCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any permit is necessary to export cement, having regard to our own shortage?
§ Sir R. HORNENo permit is necessary.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making a permit necessary, so that the Minister of Health might be able to get on with his housing scheme?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been in constant communication with the Minister of Health on this matter in order to avoid the possibility of the home supply being short.
§ Mr. BILLINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that the home supply is not short?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDo not our exports of this cement help the exchange very much, and so reduce the cost of living?
§ Sir R. HORNEOf course they do. I hope the House will remember that in these matters we must try and keep the balance as nearly as we can; sometimes it is on the wrong side and sometimes on the right side, but we are endeavouring to do our best. What my hon. Friend has just said is true; you want to export all you can in order to benefit this country, provided you keep the home market supplied, and all the time we are trying to attain that object.
§ Sir R. HORNEAs I say, I keep in constant touch with the Ministry of Health on this subject.
Dr. MURRAYAs the bulk of this exported cement is charged at a higher price than the home cement, do I understand that the foreign countries are objecting to our dumping cement in those countries?
§ Sir R. HORNEThat is the very reverse of dumping.