§ 28. Mr. MABANEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to announce that any form of inquiry is to be set up to examine the problem of distribution; and whether his attention has been drawn to the widespread demand throughout the country that the problem of distribution should receive investigation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI fear that I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend on the 6th November last.
§ Mr. MABANEHas my right hon. Friend's attention been called to the speech made yesterday by Mr. Marquis who is an authority in the industry, in which he recommends an impartial inquiry as being much preferable to indiscriminate condemnation or indiscriminate interference by a Government department in this business of distribution?
§ Mr, RUNCIMANYes, I read Mr. Marquis's speech with great interest, and I shall certainly take both it and the views of my hon. Friend into account.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that one of the strongest complaints against the distributive trade in this country is of the very low wages paid to some of the assistants?