§ 79. Sir F. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total costs, including underwriting, advertising, brokerage, etc., of the two issues under the Trade Facilities Act of the Blue Star Line (1920), Limited, and Messrs. Pearson and Dorman Long?
§ Mr. McNEILLMy hon. Friend will find the underwriting and brokerage charges stated on the published prospectuses. The advertising and similar expenses are matters for the companies concerned, on which I have no information.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the underwriters were landed with a very large percentage of both these issues, and that the failure of the issues is likely to add to underwriting expenses in future?
§ Mr. McNEILLThat may be true, but it has nothing to do with the answer which I have given.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWould it not be better in future to have a consolidated loan on which you could draw for all these trade facilities schemes, and would it not be much cheaper to raise?
§ Mr. McNEILLThat is a large question of policy which should not be addressed to me.