§ 47. Sir W. BRASSasked the Prime Minister whether he can inform the House at what date he expects to receive the report of the Commission set up to inquire into the conditions of the cotton trade?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn view of the exceptionally heavy Parliamentary duties of my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, I have invited my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to act as Chairman for the remainder of this inquiry. I understand that it is being pressed forward with all possible expedition.
§ Sir W. BRASSIs the Prime Minister aware that not only the President of the Board of Trade but the First Lord of the Admiralty has been Chairman of this Committee, and does he expect the Committee to have a satisfactory report when no one single chairman has heard all the evidence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI admit the difficulty, but at the same time I can assure the House that other methods have been taken so as to keep this inquiry going, and outside the inquiry efforts are being made to deal with the position.
Dr. DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it is not necessary to keep the inquiry going but that it is necessary to have some practical results because the condition of Lancashire is so serious.