2. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade how soon he will be in a position to make any statement as to whether or not an application has been submitted by the iron and steel trades for a protective tariff against the importation of foreign goods?
§ 11. Captain WEDGWOOD BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a decision has yet been reached as to the institution under the White Paper of an inquiry into the steel trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would refer the hon. Members to the statement made in the Debate yesterday by the Minister of Labour.
Mr. THOMSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether trades which are allied to the iron and steel trade, and which will be affected by any bounty or duty, will be heard before the Research Committee which is inquiring into the question.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Research Committee will examine all relevant considerations.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Committee.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhat does this prove? If certain trades require to be assisted in this fashion, is it not proof conclusive that the capitalist system is breaking up?
§ Captain BENNIs there anything in the pledges given by the Government which in their judgment prevents their granting a duty to steel under the safeguarding scheme?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Government stand by all their pledges.
§ Captain BENNWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the question?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODSurely I have a right to get an answer before the hon. and gallant Member for Leith (Captain Benn).
§ Mr. SPEAKERI thought the hon. Member answered his own question.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI want an expression of opinion from the other side.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe answer to the hon. Member's question is in the negative.
§ 3. Brigadier-General CHARTERISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the present unsatisfactory position of the iron and steel industry in this country, the Government will consider the necessity of taking effective steps to secure to this country orders for such of the requirements of India in these commodities as cannot be provided by the Indian factories?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer to a similar question given by the Under-Secretary of State for India on the 18th February of last year, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great Indian industrialist was here in the House a few weeks ago, begging of British Members of Parliament and others to invest money in India for the purpose 2188 of producing steel, thereby making it more difficult for British workmen to secure work?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put that question down.