HC Deb 24 March 1926 vol 193 cc1202-3
42. Sir F. WISE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of conversion of holders of Five per cent. National War Bonds of Series I, II, and III, into Five per cent. War Loan, and Four per cent. National War Bonds of the same series into Four per cent. War Loan; and the total of each series remaining?

Mr. McNEILL

The total amount of these bonds converted to the present date is £336,596,000, and the amount outstanding £613,377,000. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPOET.

Following are the figures:

Sir B. CHADWICK

I presume my hon. and gallant Friend refers to the procedure under the White Paper issued in February, 1925. The number of definite applications made thereunder, so far, is 36; and the number of cases in which import duties have been imposed is five.

Sir H. CROFT

In view of the fact that the imports of manufactures into this country give employment to more foreigners than the total of unemployed in this country, will ills Majesty's Government get on with its policy?

Sir B. CHADWICK

There is the procedure laid down, and that procedure is open to be followed by those who are concerned.

Sir H. CROFT

May I ask whether the policy of His Majesty's Government is not to encourage industry to be safeguarded?

Sir B. CHADWICK

The policy of His: Majesty's Government, as far as I understand it, is to encourage industry as far as they possibly can.

Mr. A. V. ALEXANDER

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many applications have been favourably reported upon by the Committees and then turned down by the Board of Trade?

Sir B. CHADWICK

I cannot say.

Mr. MARDY JONES

Has there been any application for safeguarding from the mining industry?

Mr. HARRIS

Are we to understand that the only ones who did not succeed in making their case before the Committees were those who could not prove their case?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is argumentative.