§ Mr. TURNERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any surplus stocks of linen-chick under the control of the Disposal Board, and, if so, what quantity; and, if there are any substantial quantities, will he instruct the Disposal Board not to place it upon the market at the present time owing to the unfortunate state of employment in the linen-duck trade of Barnsley and Leeds, or at least until after consultation with the Textile Union and the Manufacturers' Association?
§ Mr. BALDWIN:Certain stocks of surplus linen-duck remain for sale, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose the actual quantity still remaining. I fear that the suggestion in the last part of the question would entail considerable charges on public funds for storage, etc., and, in general, it is considered that the present policy of disposing of surplus materials as rapidly as possible is likely to assist rather than to retard the revival of industry. The suggested consultation would therefore not be likely to serve any useful purpose.