§ 9. Mr. Louis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the further rise in the price of copper which has recently taken place and the resultant rise in the cost of rearmament, he proposes to take any steps to deal with the matter?
§ Dr. BurginI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. D. Adams) on 3rd March and to the hon. and gallant Member for North-West Camberwell (Major Guest) on 9th March.
§ Mr. SmithHaving regard to the more effective control over the price of ferrous metals, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider taking further powers to control the prices of non-ferrous metals?
§ Dr. BurginI am perfectly prepared to consider taking further powers when the necessity for doing so is proved to our satisfaction. At the moment neither the Board of Trade nor the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence consider that such measures are required.
§ Mr. PalingI take it the Government consider that the rise in the cost of all these metals is just normal, arid nothing to worry about?