19. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in view of the fact that the Government are trading in yarn and raw cotton, he can state the result by way of profit and loss for the period June 1948 to June 1949.
§ Mr. H. WilsonGovernment trading in raw cotton ceased on 1st January, 1948, when the Raw Cotton Commission (set up under the Cotton (Centralised Buying) Act 1947) commenced to operate. The Board of Trade do not sell cotton yarn.
Mr. De la BèreCan we have an assurance that the Government are not likely to re-undertake this dealing in cotton, in view of the disastrous results?
§ Mr. WilsonThe hon. Gentleman does not know the facts. There is no question of re-undertaking things that we have never done. So far as our cotton buying is concerned there is no question of the Government taking it over because that is effectively looked after by the Raw Cotton Commission.