§ Mr. BRIANTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, considering the high retail prices now charged for woollen and cotton goods, the reduction in price would be expedited by the release of the very large stocks of clothing and material now held by the Government?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe disposal of the stocks of cotton and woollen goods in the hands of the Government is, I1352W understand, proceeding with increasing rapidity, and everything possible is being done to expedite the release of these materials. It is hardly possible to forecast the effect upon retail prices, when the stocks recently disposed of and now in course of disposal are placed on the retail market, but it must be borne in mind that these stocks, though large, are small in proportion to the total civilian demand, and that ill-considered disposal might result in loss to the Exchequer, without any gain to the consumer.