§ 6. Major CRAWFURDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, since a representative of the general public was allowed to appear before the Worsted Committee and put the case for the ultimate consumer, it may now be understood that evidence of this kind can be heard at their discretion by all future committees appointed under the safeguarding scheme?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs I have previously stated in this House, the admissibility or otherwise of any evidence which may be tendered in any case is a matter to be determined by the Committee concerned, in the light of the particular circumstances, and I am not disposed to interfere with the discretion of the Committee.
§ Major CRAWFURDDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it right that there should be a differentiation between one class of consumers and another in this matter? Do the Government think it right?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think it right to give the Committee a discretion.
§ Major CRAWFURDMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will kindly give me an answer to my question, which, surely, is a very important question? It is this: Does he think it right that, in an important matter of this kind, which affects the prices of commodities, one class of consumers should be favoured at the expense of another class?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member will kindly look at the answer which I have already given.