§ 2. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the abolition of the State match monopoly in France; and whether in its sale to private enterprise the British companies will be allowed to tender?
Mr. WEBBThe suppression of the State match monopoly is provided for in the Bill now before the French Legislature for the improvement of the French financial situation. The French Minister of Finance has stated that it is not intended to entrust a monopoly to a concessionary company, but that it is proposed that the manufacture should be unrestricted, subject only to an excise duty. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.