§ 42. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the announcement of the chairman of the U.S.A. War Production Board that 380 of the 500 restrictions placed on American industry during the war would be relaxed when Germany has been defeated; and whether he is yet in a position to give a picture to British industrialists as to what will be their position as regards war-time controls in similar circumstances.
§ Mr. DaltonI have seen this announcement. No similar arithmetical statement can be made as to restrictions in this country, and, even if it could, it would have little meaning. But my hon. Friend can be assured that the Government will continue, after the defeat of Germany, only those wartime controls on industry which are necessary in the national interest, including, in particular, the need to bring about the speedy defeat of Japan.
§ Sir L. LyleMay I ask my right hon. Friend, apart altogether from control of personal liberty, which should be done away with at the earliest possible opportunity, does he not think it high time that the Government instructed the Department to make out a list of the things which might be decontrolled in Business, so that those businesses could get on with peace-time production? [Interruption.]