§ 1. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total amount of imports of gas mantles in the first four months of 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)The imports of gas mantles in the first four months of 1925, 1926, and 1927, respectively, were 67,656 gross, 14,958 gross, and 11,203 gross.
§ Colonel DAYIs that, higher or lower than the last period of the year?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI could not say without notice.
§ 7. Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the wholesale and retail prices of gas mantles before and after the imposition of the safeguarding duty?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am informed that the average price realised by the members of the trade association on the sale by them of all their mantles during the year ended on 31st March last shows an increase of 1s. a gross on the average price realised by them during the preceding year. These sales are estimated to cover 85 per cent. of all the mantles sold in this country. Against this there have been increases in the cost of certain materials. The retail prices of the classes of mantles most commonly used have, so far as I can ascertain, remained substantially unchanged.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I take it that the statement recently made in the House that there has been a large increase in the price of mantles to the public is in fact inaccurate?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think so. I have collected the information as carefully as I can in my Department and have passed on the information in the answer.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is a shilling a gross. If the price of an article goes up owing to the cost of the material having gone up, those who buy pay the extra cost.