§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his attention has been called to charges made by the U.S. Attorney-General against the activities of British drug companies in restricting supplies by arrangement with German firms; and if he has any statement to make thereon;
(2) what steps his Department is taking to supervise the activities of cartels, particularly in the chemical industry, especially in view of the charges made by the United States Attorney-General;
§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House of the kind of investigation that is being made into the ramifications of I.G., Germany, their agencies throughout the world, the effect on our war preparations, the effect of rings, price-fixing and monopolies in this country, the terms of reference on which the investigation is being made and the names of the people conducting the investigation; and when does he expect the Report.
§ Mr. DaltonMuch information on this subject is already in the hands of the Government, but I have also noted the observations made by the United States Attorney-General. As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister stated last Thursday, no public inquiry will be made but the matter is being carefully studied. I cannot at present make any further statement.