§ 32. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the recent decision of certain copper mining companies to reduce output to one-fourth of the capacity of production of British copper mines in South Africa, the effect of which reduction is to raise the price of copper to industry in this country by about 40 per cent.; and if he can take any steps to secure that preferential treatment will be given to British Empire copper imported into Great Britain, so that British Empire mines may be worked to their full capacity and the cost of copper employed in productive enterprise in this country substantially reduced in price?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have seen reports in the Press regarding certain arrangements for the restriction of copper production. For the rest, I would refer my hon. Friend to the proposals which are at present before the House in the Import Duties Bill.
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his Department will take care to encourage the produc 1447 tion of copper in our own Dominions for our own requirements so that we may not remain at the mercy of the American combine in the copper market?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANCertainly. We will do anything to encourage the production of copper in any part of the British Empire.