§ Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the abnormal import of iron and steel during the nine months ended 30th September last, amounting to 2,061,299 tons; and what measures the Government contemplate to restore the competitive power of these industries against unfair foreign competition?
Mr. GRAHAMI am aware that the volume of imports of iron and steel and manufactures thereof during the period referred to were as stated, but I would point out that they were smaller than for the corresponding period of any of the three preceding years. A sub-committee of the Committee of Civil Research is now considering whether any action is desirable and practicable in order to improve the position of this industry in the markets of the world, and I cannot anticipate the conclusions of that inquiry.