§ Mr. SPOORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any inquiry into the boot and shoe trade has been carried out by a Committee establislied under the Profiteering Act?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo general investigation has been made into the boot and shoe industry. The Standing Committee on Prices of the Central Committee has, however, investigated costs and profits in the various stages of the manufacture of boots and shoes under the voluntary Standard Boot Scheme proposed by the boot trade. The Committee found the scheme to be conceived in the public interest, and likely to be of benefit, not only in providing the public with standard boots of recognised quality at reasonable prices, but also generally, in stabilising the market as a whole.