asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the acute shortage of zinc oxide, lithopone and titanium and the effect it is having upon the paint industry; and what steps he is taking to prevent these shortages affecting the export trade.

I am aware of the shortage of the white pigments referred to: the effect of this shortage on the direct exports of paint as well as on paints used in industry generally is to be discussed with representatives of the paint industry shortly.