asked the President of the Board of Trade why furniture manufacturing firms who use coir fibre for upholstery purposes were compelled to take over between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of fibre at £46 per ton before control was removed; if he is aware that the price fell to £30 per ton as soon as the free market was restored; and what steps he is taking to prevent the public having to pay £50,000 too much for utility upholstery during the next few months as a consequence.

The price at which stocks of coir fibre were sold was calculated to cover the total cost of purchases made. These stocks were acquired to match the anticipated demands which however were less than those anticipated owing to shortages of other materials such as timber.