§ 68. Mr. Lieut.-Colonel THOMasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, with reference to the recent decision of the Trade Facilities Act Committee to provide a guarantee of £650,000 for the extension of the works of the Appleby Iron Company, the Committee of Research were satisfied that the steel-makers' plant in this country was efficient and well up to date, and that, with that efficient and modern plant, steel could not be produced in this country at the prices which were being quoted by the Continental makers for delivery to our shipbuilding yards; and whether, in these circumstances, he will give an assurance that no further grants under the Act will be made to steel makers in this country?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)The Committee of Civil Research is a Committee of the Cabinet, and it would therefore be contrary to established practice to make public its recommendations to the Government. As regards the last part of the question, the Trade Facilities Act. Advisory Committee will continue to deal on their merits with applications for guarantees.
§ Mr. KIDDCan the right hon. Member say whether before making the grants the Trade Facilities Committee had before them the conclusions of the Research Committee? If not, why not, and if they had, what consideration contrary to those conclusions led them to refuse the grant?
§ Mr. McNEILLThat is covered by the answer which I have given.