§ 22. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in the event of the Caledonian Power Bill for the production of calcium carbide at Corpach, near Fort William, being approved by Parliament, the Government will consider the advisability of establishing a system of State control whereby the prices of carbide will be regulated in such a way as to prevent the British Oxygen Company, or any other semi-monopoly, exacting prohibitive prices from the consumers?
Mr. StanleyAny calcium carbide made in this country will be in competition with the imported product, which at present enters free of duty. If an application for an import duty comes before the Import Duties Advisory Committee, they must, as part of their statutory functions, consider the interests of the consumer before making any recommendation.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill the right hon. Gentleman see that at Fort William the housing conditions of the workers are not in such a scandalous state as at Kin-lochleven?
Mr. StanleyI am afraid that that is not a matter for me. The Board of Trade covers many subjects, but not housing.
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs it not the case that certain requirements have to be laid down by the President of the Board of Trade, and should not one of them be that the workers in the industry must be well housed?