§ Mr. BIRDasked the President of the Board of Trade if spelter is now being sold by licence under Government control at a price below its actual cost of production; and whet is the loss upon each ton sold and to what account the deficit is debited?
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Mr. BRI DGEMANUnder an agreement made in September, 1918, between the Ministry of Munitions and the British Zinc Smelters, spelter produced from zinc ore purchased with the approval of the Ministry was taken by that Department at a standard price plus increased costs of fuel and labour. This agreement was in force until the 5th November last, and under it the prices paid to the producers by the Government were considerably in excess of the prices realised on sale to consumers; but I am not at present in a position to state the actual loss resulting from the arrangement, which was entered into to avoid the closing down of the smelting works. Losses incurred up to the 5th May were to the account of the Ministry of Munitions, and after that date to the account of the Board of Trade.