§ 4. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade why the chemical industry is not included in the list of industries that are to be investigated by the Monopoly Commission; and if he will make a statement on the restrictive practices operated by the chemical industry during the past 20 years.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Monopolies Commission is a permanent statutory body and the list of six cases already referred to it will be added to from time to time. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the publication, before investigations by the Commission, of the information at present available about restrictive practices in particular industries.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithIn view of the fact that we won the war and that German industry was knocked out, why has there not been any more increase in output in the chemical industry in Britain?
§ Mr. BottomleyI indicated that there are all kinds of restrictions, particularly on labour and materials, and there are other factors which have limited output.