§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there are 14,000 magneto workers in Great Britain who were specially trained during the War to make magnetos for aeroplanes and other Government purposes; that a Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade sat in 1915, and decided that the making of magnetos was a key industry, and that this was confirmed by a Committee of Commercial and Industrial Policy in 1919, who both reported accordingly; that, owing to the exchange, German magnetos are being dumped at a figure below the cost of material to the British manufacturer; that in consequence one half of 7,000 of the employés are out of work and the rest are on half time; and that, over and above the favourable handicap of the exchange, the German Bosch manufacturer is selling below cost, as he did prior to the War, to exterminate the British trader, as he did in pre-War days; and will he cause prohibition of such imports until trade and exchanges are normal, and so cherish a key industry?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI am unable to state the actual number of magneto workers trained during the War, nor the proportion of these who are now out of work or on half time. The industry is undoubtedly depressed; and this depression is partly due to the fact that German magnetos are being offered at low prices, but I have no reason to believe that they are being sold below the selling price in Germany. My hon. Friend is correct in stating that the Committees referred to recommended that magnetos should be treated as a key industry. There is no power at present to prohibit their importation. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Government has undertaken to introduce legislation dealing with key industries at the beginning of next Session.