§ 5. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the appointment of a departmental committee to inquire into the tendency towards the creation of monopolies which is involved in the realisation of the principle of rationalisation and into the effect of such monopolies upon the price of important commodities in general use?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe general question of the effect of combination is discussed in the report of the Committee on Industry and Trade which has just been published, and I do not think that any further general inquiry is necessary.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIf my right hon. Friend cannot see his way to set up a Departmental Committee, could he indicate what can be done to stop the mischievous tendencies that many of us see in rationalisation?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think it is very unfortunate to make general observations of that kind, and I should be very sorry to endorse the proposition that the rationalisation of industry was a mischievous process.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the rationalisation of the Press is in the interests of the country at the present time?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think that the Press is a productive industry.
§ Mr. BROADHas it not been the policy of this Government to create and encourage monopolies in every sphere?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt has been the policy of the Government to encourage the rationalisation of industry, and it is a very proper policy to follow.
Mr. BECKETTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the rationalisation of the electrical industry under Lord Birkenhead?