asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the agreement recently signed between the Harriman Combine and the Soviet Government has placed a monopoly of Caucasian peroxide of manganese in the hands of an American combine; and, as this product is largely used by British bottle manufacturers, whether any efforts are being made to find a substitute in order that British manufacturers may not be wholly dependent upon the owners of this monopoly?

I have no reason to think that the arrangement to which the hon. Member refers will interfere with the supplies to British glass makers. I may point out that satisfactory supplies of manganese peroxide are obtainable from other sources, such as India, and also that other substances are available for use as glass decolorizers.

Is it a fact, as asked in the Question, that a monopoly of this product has been given to an American combine by the Russian Government?

There is, I believe, a concession, and I believe the terms do give a monopoly. It is only for a period, but that appears to be only transferring the monopoly which the Soviet already exercise to someone else.