§ 39 and 40. Mr. Pageasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) by how much the receipts of the Jute Control have exceeded its expenditure since the control was established;
(2) by how much the receipts of the Jute Control have exceeded its expenditure since 17th July, 1957, to a recent convenient date; and how that figure compares with that for a similar period of 1956–57.
§ Mr. ErrollIn the period from 1939, when the Jute Control was established, to 31st December, 1957, the Control's net surplus on trading operations, calculated on a commercial basis, amounted to about £2,780,000. Figures for the period from 17th July, 1957, are not available, but in the period from 1st July, 1957, to 31st December, 1957, the surplus was about £731,600 compared with £1,469,700 in the corresponding period of 1956.
§ Mr. PageCan my hon. Friend tell me whether his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has considered a further reduction in the mark-up price of imported hessian and the use of this profit of the Jute Control to support the Dundee manufacturers if any further reduction in the mark-up price should cause them hardship?
§ Mr. ErrollI will pass on the suggestion of my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. G. M. ThomsonWhen considering this question, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the operations of the Jute Control over these years have been the means of preventing mass unemployment in the City of Dundee?
§ Mr. ErrollYes, I appreciate that.