§ 22. Mr. GRENFELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the rise in the price of block tin; and whether, having regard to the considerable additional cost involved to the tiplate industry he will authorise an inquiry into the operations of the Tin Control Board with a view to the maintenance of supplies of metal at reasonable and steady prices for the manufacture of tinplates?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAfter consulting my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies I see no necessity for an inquiry of the kind suggested. The International Tin Committee announced a further increase in the export quotas of the producing countries last week, and since then the price of tin has declined.
§ Mr. GRENFELLDoes the right hon. Gentleman expect that the price of tin will fall to its previous level in consequence of the action taken, and does he realise that the price of tinplate to the manufacturer has gone up 8d. a cwt. in consequence of the increase of £35 a ton in the price of raw tin?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI quite realise the importance of the hon. Gentleman's point, but I can make no prophecy as to the future price of tin.
§ Mr. J. RATHBONEDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that any further fall in the price of tin will mean ruination to Cornish tin mines?