§ 32. Mr. T. GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make available to Members of this House a copy of the agreement made between the iron and steel makers of this country and of India subsequent to the Ottawa Conference regarding the restriction of the importation of steel bars from India for the production of galvanized 178 sheets and tinplates to a figure of 7,000 tons per month?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI understand that there have been recent discussions between the representatives of the British and Indian iron and steel industries which have resulted in an arrangement, satisfactory to both sides, for the use of Indian sheet bar by British concerns in the manufacture of galvanised sheet far the Indian market. The negotiations were not conducted by the respective Governments and I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to the details of the arrangement.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that this experiment will remain in force until the end of the agreement?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not sure whether the agreement made between the iron and steel interests is co-terminus with the Ottawa Agreements, but I believe that it is intended to cover approximately the same period.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIf I put a question down, will the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should like to see the question on the Paper before I give a more definite reply.