§ Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade why he has refused to allow the reopening of the Liverpool Cotton Exchange, although he has allowed the rubber market to resume free and futures dealings.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe circumstances in which the Government decided to restore private trade in rubber were fully set out in the statement which was made after Questions on 4th November. The reasons 355W for the decision to retain centralised purchase of raw cotton were similarly given in a statement which I made on 18th March, and in the speeches of my right hon. Friends, the Lord President of the Council and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 28th March.