asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the composition of the proposed groups to be established to allocate scarce raw materials, as a result of the recent discussions between the United States of America, France and this country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement on the setting up of international commodity groups to deal with scarce raw materials.

The House will recall that on 13th January the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and France put forward proposals for international action on scarce materials. Following further discussions between the three Governments, the United States Government, acting on behalf of all three, has recently issued invitations to a number of major producing and consuming countries to form the first Standing Commodity Groups—or Committees as they are to be known—in conformity with the proposals of 13th January. A further announcement will be made regarding the membership of the Committees when replies to the invitations have been received.

The materials concerned are: nonferrous metals—copper, zinc and lead in one Committee; molybdenum and tungsten in another; manganese, nickel and cobalt in a third. Separate Committees are also proposed for cotton, wool and sulphur. It is hoped that the first Committee will meet by the end of this month, and that all will be working by the beginning of April. Their functions will be, as already explained, to consider and recommend to Governments the specific action which should be taken in the case of each commodity in order to expand production, increase and conserve supplies and assure their most effective distribution and use among consuming countries.

The Committees will be autonomous bodies and will themselves decide their own procedures. They will report direct to the Governments concerned and not to any existing international organisation or to the central group. But countries who are not members of the Commodity Committees will be able to represent their viewpoints and interests to the Committees.

I very much hope that these arrangements will enable speedy action to be taken internationally to deal with this vital problem.

Having listened to the right hon. Gentleman's explanation of the functions of the proposed committees, may I ask him what actual power they will have to enforce any decision they may take or to see that the recommendations they make for an allocation of a raw material are followed up by the other countries?

They have no power except to make recommendations to Governments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that there is added to their terms of reference the question of restricting the export of those raw materials of which we are particularly short?

Yes, Sir, I have no doubt that that will be covered.

Will not the success of the international commodity groups depend on domestic controls, and will my right hon. Friend introduce as soon as possible domestic control of the raw materials which are in short supply?

As far as I am aware, control exists in relation to scarce materials already.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how far these groups will take into account strategic needs?

I should say that they will certainly take into account strategic needs.

Will the right hon. Gentleman continue to bear in mind, in regard to the non-ferrous metals Committee, the desirability of having as a British member of the Committee someone thoroughly familiar with the British Midlands metal manufacturing industry?

Yes, Sir.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this question is very urgent because before long there may be a shortage of raw cotton in Lancashire and mills may be unemployed?

We are indeed very well aware of the urgency and importance of this matter.