§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a resolution from the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers pointing out the urgency of the present difficulties of the iron and steel industry, and asking that the proposals may be made immediately effective and retrospective from the date of the introduction of the Budget; and, if so, whether he will indicate the nature of his reply, if one has been sent, to the resolution?
Mr. SAMUELMy right hon. Friend has received the resolution in question, together with a number of other representations on the subject of the Govern-1914W ment's proposals. It is to be observed that these communications, whilst expressing general approval of the scheme, invariably contain suggestions which would increase the burden upon the Exchequer by many millions a year. It is therefore necessary to consider the representations as a whole, and meantime I would refer my hon. Friend to the reasons which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave in the Budget statement for bringing the scheme into operation in the autumn of next year.