Sir F. HALL:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether steps are being taken to carry out the suggestion made by him at a recent meeting of the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers that the Board of Trade should be informed privately by manufacturers of the loss of orders to foreign firms; and, if effect is given to this proposal, will he arrange for the information so obtained to be published periodically for the assistance and guidance of the manufacturers and trade unions concerned, including particulars so far as available of the different wages and hours of labour obtaining in this country and in the country where tenders are given on account of the lower prices quoted?