§ 10. Mr. COLLISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that users in Japan of 99–100 per cent. synthetic indigo can buy from British dye makers at 5s. per 1b. whilst the sum of 8s. 6d. per 1b. is charged to the British user; that this difference in price is due to the fact that British dye makers have a monopoly in this country both in manufacturing and in the distribution of imported German dyes; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to removing this grievance?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI think the hon. Member must be under a misapprehension, as I am informed by the only British makers of synthetic indigo that none of that product is being sold by them in Japan.
§ Mr. COLLISONIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to consider the facts which I will produce for his benefit?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI will be very glad to consider any facts which the hon. Member produces.
§ 16 and 17. Mr. H. H. SPENCERasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the statement of the president of the Colour Users' Association to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce of 23rd February, 1923, in which he asked the Government to redeem its pledge that the Act should not jeopardise the using industries; whether the Government does propose to do so;
(2) whether his attention has been called to the statement of the president of the Colour Users' Association that prices both of home-produced and reparation dyestuffs are at an artificially high level, 300 to 400 per cent. above pre-War; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am in constant communication with the representa- 1247 tives of the dye-making and dye-using industries, and every effort is being made to secure that the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Act is administered in such a manner as to promote the best interests of both parties.
§ Mr. SPENCERDoes the Minister agree with the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, as stated in this House the other day, that these are fairy tales, or are they facts?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI agree with every single word that the Chairman of the Licensing Committee said in this House.
§ Mr. SPENCERThen I can have no answer as to the procedure of the Board of Trade?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe hon. Member can have this answer. There is a very representative Committee there, presided over by a very distinguished Member of this House, and that Committee will continue to do its work in the admirable way in which it has been carried on in the past.