§ 14. Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has ascertained from the Merchant Traders' Company the wholesale price c.i.f. at which the Russian doors are being marketed; and will he give the comparative cost of similar doors made in Great Britain without allowing for any profit?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and I regret that the information asked for in the second part is not available.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWould it not be a simple proceeding for the right hon. Gentleman to send a letter to the Merchant Traders' Company and get the information, seeing that 600,000 doors are being imported by this company?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. These firms are under no obligation to disclose to me or, as far as I know, to anybody else, the nature of their trading operations.
§ Commander BELLAIRSAs a matter of courtesy, they will give the information.
§ Mr. SMITHERSMay I ask whether it is not part of the duty of the President of the Board of Trade—
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Day!