§ Sir L. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of his expressed desire to ascertain whether price exploitation exists, if he can state what is the price at which sewing cotton is now sold as compared with the pre-war price, and if J. and P. Coats, Limited, have just declared a net profit of £3,387,395 for the year ended 30th June, 1916; after allowing for depreciation and the Excess Profits Duty; and, in the event of his being satisfied that an undue profit has been made by this firm in time of war out of the sale of a commodity largely used by poor people, if he will exercise the powers he possesses to reduce the price of sewing cotton?
Mr. ROBERTSI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the similar question addressed by him to my predecessor on the 30th November, of which I am sending him a copy.