§ 34. Colonel GOODMANasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has information respecting International and foreign control of raw materials and primary products produced within the Dominions; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to propose the inclusion on the agenda for the forthcoming Imperial Conference at Ottawa of an item enabling this subject to be discussed in order to secure that these products shall be supplied in the first place to the benefit and advantage of industries within the Empire?
Mr. J. H. THOMASI am aware that in certain cases primary resources have been developed with the assistance of foreign capital, but I am not aware of any cases in which the result has been to deprive industries within the Empire of the use, on competitive terms, of the commodities thus produced. I do not anticipate that the agenda of the Ottawa Conference will be so framed as to exclude discussion of this subject if desired, but as at present advised His Majesty's Government do not themselves propose to raise it.
§ Colonel GOODMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the asbestos mines in Rhodesia are controlled by an international firm, who, because they can purchase asbestos fibre from Russia, at a price lower than that at which it can be produced in Rhodesia, are slacking down the work in the mines there, thus causing considerable unemployment?
Mr. THOMASI am not aware of that, but, if the hon. and gallant Member will give me details, I will see how far they have relation to the answer which I have just given.