7. Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a departmental inquiry is to be held into the question of the economic value of the middle trader?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir P. Lloyd-Greame)The answer is in the negative. It is, however, the fact that, at the request of the Chairman of the Central Committee established under the Profiteering Acts, a conference is being held by certain members of the Committee to inquire into the subject of the multiplication of transactions in the distribution of commodities.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYWhat advantage is to be gained by these conferences? Would it not be best to leave the middle traders alone, and leave trade free?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEWe shall see the advantage of the conference when its results are put before us. I do not think it would have been practicable, if the Central Committee wished to hold this inquiry, to put any obstacle in the way.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELIs it not a fact that many manufacturers could not get on without the aid of these merchants to dispose of the goods which our men turn out, and that no inquiry of this kind will lead to any good or tell us anything that we do not already know about the great value of the merchant to British industry?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI think it is obvious that these merchants perform an invaluable function which no one else could perform, and I cannot conceive that any Committee would report in any other sense.
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI should require notice of that question. The Central Committee, as my hon. Friend knows, acts very largely within its own sphere at its own discretion. It has a large number of people on it, but whether, in the special informal inquiry which is taking place, merchants will be represented, I cannot say. If my hon. Friend would like special information, perhaps he will put down a question.