§ 13. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that textile manufacturers are placing provisional orders for textile machinery for delivery after the war; if, 631 in view of the shortage that will exist, he is considering a scheme of priorities, including priority between the home and oversea markets and the control of prices so long as textile machines are in short supply.
§ Mr. DaltonYes, Sir. It is clear that an appropriate allocation, as between the home and export markets, will have to be made.
§ Mr. StokesWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that, in any regulation he makes, he will do everything possible to encourage people to place postwar orders, in spite of the fact that they may have to be re-arranged later?
§ Mr. DaltonIt depends upon stocks.
§ Sir Herbert HoldsworthWill the right hon. Gentleman consult associations in Bradford before any steps are taken?
§ Mr. DaltonWe are constantly in touch with the representatives of this industry which will be very important after the war.
§ Sir H. HoldsworthWill the right hon. Gentleman consult them?
§ Mr. DaltonI am constantly doing that.
Mr. Graham WhiteIs it not wise that manufacturers of textile machinery should have some knowledge of the volume of business they are likely to have at the end of the war; is not the placing of provisional orders, the proper way of dealing with it, and if not, Will the right hon. Gentleman indicate what it is?
§ Mr. DaltonWe would all like to know with great exactitude the position at the end of the war, but, unfortunately, that is beyond human knowledge at present.