§ 69. Mr. Manderasked the President of the Board of Trade the present position with regard to the preparation of voluntary schemes for the concentration of industry; to what extent action has been taken, or is contemplated, on a compulsory basis; and whether it is desired that firms, whether within the group of specified industries or not, should submit their own voluntary schemes?
§ Captain WaterhouseMy right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement at an early date
§ Mr. ManderWill my hon. and gallant Friend be good enough to answer the latter part of the Question?
§ Captain WaterhouseI should prefer my hon. Friend to await the statement.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not the case that the President of the Board of Trade has already made a statement bearing on the subject? What possible reason can there be for delay in answering the latter part of my Question? There is no question of statistics.
§ Captain WaterhouseIt is perfectly clear that if a firm in any industry likes to make arrangements, the President of the Board of Trade will welcome them, but we cannot go beyond that.
§ Mr. ManderIncluding the obligation for nucleus firms closing down certain factories?
§ Captain WaterhouseI cannot deal with that, pending my right hon. Friend's statement.