§ Captain Prescottasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make arising from his recent discussions with representatives of the Liverpool and Manchester Cotton Associations concerning the threatened closure of the Liverpool cotton futures market.
§ Captain Marplesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, now that he has met the deputation from the north of England, he will declare the policy of His Majesty's Government in regardto the bulk purchase of cotton; and whether the Government still intend to close the Liverpool Cotton Exchange.
§ Sir S. CrippsI had a full discussion on 7th November with representatives of these associations and of the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners on the future of the Liverpool cotton market, in the course of which I made it clear that no final decisions had been reached and undertook that the views which had been put forward would be carefully considered by the Government.