§ Mr. A. BENNETTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer exactly what are the assets now being dealt with by the trading services of the Government; and whether there is any reason why the whole of those remaining in Government hands should not be liquidated without delay?
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§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERThe term "trading services" is somewhat indefinite, and in any case an exact statement of assets could not be rendered in answer to a Parliamentary question. If the hon. Member is referring to the temporary trading services in foodstuffs and raw materials undertaken by His Majesty's Government in consequence of the War, the position is that in the case of all these services, except those relating to Colonial wool and Australian zinc concentrates, stocks have already been completely disposed of, and trading has ceased, though the liquidation accounts have not yet in all cases been completed. As regards Colonial wool, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Southwark Central (Mr. Gilbert) and the hon. and gallant Member for Rusholme (Captain Thorpe) on the l9th February and 27th March last respectively; as regards zinc concentrates, His Majesty's Government is contractually liable to take certain supplies from the Australian producers each year until 1930.