§ Major Lyonsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the great scarcity of low-priced utility household cups and saucers; whether, in the scheme of industrial concentration, manufacturers of this commodity have been merged with the makers of established higher-priced goods; and what steps he proposes to take to rectify the position?
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§ Sir A. DuncanYes, Sir. I am aware that there has been a shortage of cheap crockery in some districts. Under the concentration arrangements a small number of firms that produced, predominantly, cheap crockery have closed but other firms of this kind have obtained nucleus status, and the great majority of nucleus firms are equipped to increase their production of plain ware at the expense of their production of decorated ware. A general licence has now been issued under the Limitation of Supplies Order, permitting the unrestricted supply of utility articles made of plain undecorated earthenware or china.