§ Mr. Hoyasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will institute an inquiry into the chemical industry.
§ Mr. H. WilsonYes. I feel that the Government should be in possession of a comprehensive survey of this basic industry showing its long-term plans, its probable lines of development and the steps regarded as necessary to meet the objectives disclosed by the survey. I have been considering with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health, Minister of Supply and Minister of Fuel and Power, who are responsible for certain parts of the industry, how best such a survey could be undertaken. The chemical industry is a complicated and diversified industry and the techniques applied to other important industries, such as the working party, are clearly not appropriate. It has accordingly been decided that the first step should be to ask the Association of British Chemical Manufacturers to prepare a report on the lines I have indicated, and this they have readily agreed to do. The Trades Union Congress have also been consulted and have expressed their agreement with this line of approach. I should make it clear that no decisions on policy on the basis of the report, if any were called for, would be made without further consultation with both sides of the industry. The Association have agreed to endeavour to produce the report by the middle of 1949.