§ Mr. W. SHAWasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government has any financial interest in a concern called the Metal and Chemical Bank, controlled by a Mr. Tilder Smith; and whether any preferential treatment was given to this institution to enable it to import flax into this country?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the bank has received in its negotiations with the Governments of the Baltic States such diplomatic support as would be accorded in similar circumstances to any British concern of good standing.