§ Mr. BRIANTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to take action in accordance with the re-commendations of the Committee which investigated the price of tobacco; and, if so, when?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe Sub-Committee appointed by the Central Committee under the Profiteering Acts to investigate the tobacco industry reported that the existence of the large combination in the trade had not had the effect of raising the price of tobacco and cigarettes to the consumer, but, on the contrary, had tended in the opposite direction. The Sub-Committee recommended that the Government might well be armed with powers to protect the public in the event of a monopoly being exercised to its detriment, and this recommendation will be kept in view when legislation of a permanent nature, dealing with monopolies and combinations, is under consideration.