§ 3. Sir R. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that tenders for electric cables for this country have repeatedly been secured by foreign firms owing to the operations of the price-fixing associations which maintain the British quotations at an artificially high level; and whether he will consider appointing a Committee to inquire into the matter?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am aware that some orders for electric cables have been placed abroad, but there are a, number of well-known causes for the higher prices of many manufactured articles in this country, and I have no evidence that the disparity in this case is to be ascribed to the particular cause suggested. I am not prepared to appoint a Committee of inquiry in this instance.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that he has no evidence that these rings are operating? Has he not the evidence of the Balfour Committee's Report?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI know the evidence of the Balfour Committee Reports, but that was not the question which was addressed to me. I do not think there is evidence that, in this particular case, the trade is acting unreasonably. There was an inquiry some years ago which reported to that effect.
§ Mr. ROBERT HUDSONIs it not generally agreed and admitted that there is a ring of manufacturers in the electricity industry
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNobody is denying that there is a ring, but the question was whether the ring is acting unreasonably. There was an inquiry into that question some years ago and, on the whole, it was found not to be acting unreasonably.
§ Mr. HUDSONIs it not time we had another inquiry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think so. I think, on the whole, these amalgamations are useful; and about the worst thing any Government can do is to start a very large number of roving commissions and inquiries.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that even during last year there was a joint inquiry into the electricity machinery industry, and it was decided quite distinctly that there was a ring operating unfavourably against shipbuilding?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think that has anything to do with the electricity industry.