§ Mr. Denmanasked the Minister of Supply whether paint and varnish manufacturers of Leeds, who are well occupied on war contracts and whose premises would provide no useful storage space, may be assured of licences to continue in production in all cases in which he is satisfied that no economy in labour, material, cost or transport, outweighing the advantages of dispersal, ease and rapidity of delivery and the efficiency that results from long established relations between consumers and producers working in close proximity, would be gained by compulsorily closing them down?
889W
§ Sir A. DuncanI understand that the whole question of the concentration of the paint and varnish industry is under reconsideration by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in consultation with the industry itself and the Ministry of Labour and National Service. I will arrange for my hon. Friend to be kept informed on this matter.