§ 20. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement concerning the promised inquiry into the cotton trade?
§ 30. Mr. HERBERT GIBSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the proposed inquiry into the cotton industry; has the Committee yet been appointed; and, ii so, can he give the names?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe inquiry will be conducted by a sub-committee of the Committee of Civil Research. I am not able at the moment to announce the names of the sub-committee, but it will consist of two Ministers, one prominent industrialist, one leading trade unionist, and one accountant. The names will be announced as soon as possible.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any information in respect to the terms of reference; will they be broad, and will the inquiry be public?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe terms of reference will be drawn in the widest possible fashion; that is, they will have regard to the condition of the industry and its power to recover the home and export markets. An inquiry of this character is, of course, not public, but all information is obtained. There are great advantages in conducting an inquiry on these lines.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYMay I take it that the inquiry will obtain evidence from all sections of the trade?
§ Mr. GRAHAMBeyond all doubt. That is the whole object of the investigation.
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELCan the right hon. Gentleman form any estimate as to how long it is going to take?
§ Mr. GRAHAMBeginning immediately after the holiday season, I think the inquiry will be completed in three or four months at the outside, but I warn the House that no one can commit himself to a definite date.
§ Mr. GRAHAMYes, the terms of reference, are so wide that any evidence bearing on this industry will be in order.