§ 91. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the high price of men's suiting, even of utility ranges; and what steps he is taking to reduce these prices which are causing hardship.
§ Mr. J. EdwardsI am well aware that the current price of men's suitings, as indeed of all wool cloths, is high. This is mainly the result of the current high price of raw wool. The increase in the price of raw wool has been more marked in the case of the types of wool used in the manufacture of worsted cloths than of those used in woollen cloths, and the price of worsted cloths has consequently risen more than the price of woollen cloths. I am afraid that I can hold out no hope of any reductions in price until world prices of raw materials come down.