20. Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps are being taken to carry out the suggestion made by him at a recent meeting of the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers that the Board of Trade should be informed privately by manufacturers of the loss of orders to foreign firms; and, if effect is given to this proposal, will he arrange for the information so obtained to be published periodically for the assistance and guidance of the manufacturers and trade unions concerned, including particulars so far as available of the different wages and hours of labour obtaining in this country and in the country where tenders are given on account of the lower prices quoted?
Mr. WEBBThe Board of Trade are informed from time to time of cases of the kind referred to in the first part of the question, but I do not think that publicity of the kind suggested in the second part would be in the best interests of British manufacturers.
Sir F. HALLAt the meeting referred to, did not the right hon. Gentleman state that it would be advisable that this information 194 should be procurable, and what steps has he taken to see that that is being done?
§ Mr. DICKSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it is about time that he should leave private enterprise to carry out its own business without State interference?
Mr. WEBBMy suggestion was that manufacturers would do well to put the information before the Board of Trade privately in order to avoid publicity, and I still think so.
Sir F. HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that the conditions of labour in foreign countries are equally good?