§ 61. Mr. BRACKENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statistics to show whether any improvement has occurred in Lancashire's trade with India since the conclusion of the pact between the Viceroy and Mr. Gandhi?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHThe agreement referred to is too recent to enable any conclusion as to its effect to be drawn from the records of subsequent exports of cotton goods to India. I may, however, add that the value of these exports has shown some recovery since November, 1930.
§ Mr. BRACKENCan the Minister state upon what authority the President of the Board of Trade stated in Manchester that a substantial improvement had taken place?
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYAre we then to understand that the Minister made a statement without any substantial grounds?
§ Mr. SMITHNo, I do not think that you should understand that. I do not know what the statement was, and therefore I do not think that it can be assumed for one moment that I know what the facts are?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIs it not a fact that this statement was a considered interview given by the President of the Board of Trade to a Press Association representative in Edinburgh, and has he not read it?