§ 40. Mr. CLARRYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the monthly statistics on iron and steel not being available until five or six weeks from the end of the month, and the desirability of the iron and steel industry keeping in close touch with imports and exports, he will consider making available his departmental statistics at more frequent intervals?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANParticulars of the imports and exports of iron and steel are published monthly in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" on the tenth working day of the month following that to which the accounts relate.
§ Mr. CLARRYWould it be possible for these figures to be made public to the industry concerned soon after the 10 days?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThey are published with the general figures 10 days after the end of the month and are then open to everybody to read.
§ Mr. CLARRYIs it not a fact that the figures are obtained in 10 days in the Ministry?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe cannot do it in a shorter period than of one month.