9. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade at what decision the Government has arrived in regard to the protest of the Nottingham Embroidery Manufacturers' Association against the decision of the Control of Imports Department of the Board of Trade to allow the ration of embroidery imports to be increased by 30 per cent. upon the figures of 1916 and to extend the period of such ration by two months?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave last Thursday to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Central Division of Nottingham.
Sir J. D. REESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this question is to ask what action has been taken on the protest. I do not understand that my hon. Friend's previous question dealt with that point?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not know what action, or that any action, has been taken.
Sir J. D. REESWill my hon. Friend take action in the matter, which is of considerable importance to Nottingham?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy hon. Friend knows that the whole of these matters 852 have been under review, and that a statement will be made in a few days of the whole trade policy of the Government.
§ 13. Major HAYWARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in deciding the question of restricting the import of any individual article, the effect of such restriction on trade as a whole is considered; and, if so, what bodies are consulted to this end?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The existing list of restrictions is due almost entirely to the recommendations of the Imports Consultative Council.
§ Captain W. BENNDoes the Imports Consultative Council represent the consumers as a whole, or a few interested parties?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt represents a very large number of people, not all consumers, not all manufacturers, not all merchants—some of every kind.
§ Captain BENNWould the hon. Gentleman say what representation the consumers have?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI answered the whole of that some days ago when the hon. and gallant Gentleman raised the question in Debate, and following the formation of the Council. He did not-pursue the question any further then.
§ Captain BENNHave not considerable modifications been made in that Council since its formation, and who are responsible for these?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot remember the exact date of the formation—
§ Sir S. HOAREDid not the Council come to an end about two months ago?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAbout that date.
§ Mr. KILEYHave considerable modifications not been made since the Committee went out of existence?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot say off-hand.
§ Mr. KILEYOn whose advice or recommendation were these modifications made? Have they not been made since the Committee went out of existence?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot give a list of the particular modifications made; my hon. Friend bad better put down a question.
§ Mr. KILEYCan the hon. Gentleman say on whose advice the modifications have been made since that date?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot possibly say off-hand.
§ Captain BENNWere they on the recommendations of individual manufacturers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy hon. and gallant Friend must give notice of that.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODOf course they were.
§ 14. Major HAYWARDasked the President of the Board of Trade on what principle he decides which of several competing applicants with equal claims shall be permitted to import goods requiring a special licence?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANCompeting applicants with equal claims would all receive licences. Licences are issued equitably to all those who establish their title to a ration.
§ Captain BENNDoes the hon. Gentleman mean to say that import is restricted entirely, or that licences are granted to all applicants?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThey are based on a certain fixed ration.
§ Captain BENNThat is not the question.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANWe decide by the amount imported in the given year for which the calculation is made.
§ Mr. KILEYCan the hon. Gentleman tell the House whether the Board of Trade have considered the advisability of limiting the amount of profit which these fortunate licensees have made?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat is all part of the main question.
§ 15. Major HAYWARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether traders who have been refused a full import licence for certain articles have been 854 invited to purchase the same goods from others who had been granted a licence, and thus to become middlemen dealing in articles imported by their trade rivals?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is possible that applicants for permission to import restricted articles who are not entitled to participate in the ration, and who have alleged that they must have the articles, may have been recommended to procure them from a ration holder.
§ 16. Mr. HOLMESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, after the Inter-Allied Commission in Constantinople has sanctioned the export of goods to England, import licences are also needed; and, if so, what happens to such goods when they arrive in England if the licence is refused?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf the goods are on the restricted list, an import licence is needed, as the permission to export, which is granted by a body in Constantinople, does not include permission to import into the United Kingdom. If the licences could not be granted in accordance with the usual practice, or within the limits of authorised rations, the goods, if imported, would have to be held under bond until the operative restriction was removed or the rations were renewed.
§ Mr. HOLMESWill the hon. Gentleman give us the value of the goods at present in the London docks, and—
§ Mr. SPEAKERNotice must be given of that question.
§ 17. Mr. HOLMESasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present rule respecting the import of upper leather, which was until recently forbidden; whether he has seen the resolution passed by the committee of the Northampton Manufacturers' Association protesting against the increased cost of upper leather; and whether he is aware of the present cost of boots?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe importation of upper leather has been free of restrictions since the 15th of June.
§ 26. Captain BENNasked whether the import of any articles from France and Italy is prohibited; and what steps he is taking to encourage British exports to those countries?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs regards France, by virtue of an international agreement, goods on the prohibited list are with few exceptions freely licensed for import into the United Kingdom. As regards Italy, with very few exceptions, the restrictions are the same as those applied to similar goods from other countries. I am satisfied that British exports to these two countries, so far from being prejudiced by the British import restrictions have been considerably assisted by the basis on which the import restrictions are administered.
§ Captain BENNIf the exports to Italy are encouraged by import restrictions why are the exports to America not encouraged by import restrictions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question can be raised when it arises in Debate.
§ 27. Captain BENNasked whether there is any substantial import from America of the following articles: ladies' apparel, baskets, bulbs (flower), carpets, cloisonné ware, cotton duck, cotton embroidery, feathers for bedding, furniture, gin, granite, hops, hosiery, cotton, matches, mouldings, plants and trees, saccharine, toys, and woollen goods; and, if not, why are they included in the import restriction list?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANBut for the import restrictions the answer to the first part of the question would be in the affirmative. This was a factor in the considerations which weighed with the Government in adopting the policy of import restriction.
§ 36. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state in money values the total amount of our exports during the first six months of 1912, 1913, and 1914, and the total amount of our exports during the first six months of this year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANExports from the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1919, respectively, were as follows:
Period, January to June. Exports of British and Irish Produce and Manufactures. Exports of Foreign and Colonial Merchandise. Total Exports. £ £ £ 1912 … 225,313,000 57,834,000 283,147,000 1913 … 257,056,000 59,055,000 316,111,000 1914 … 255,458,000 59,276,000 314,734,000 1919 … 334,755,000 55,435,000 390,190,000
§ 37. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state in money values the total amount of our imports during the first six months of 1912, 1913, and 1914, and the total amount of our imports during the first six months of this year?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANImports into the United Kingdom during the first six months of 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1919, respectively, were as follows:
Period. Value of Imports. January to June, 1912 £353,900,000 January to June, 1913 378,746,000 January to June, 1914 375,883,000 January to June, 1919 717,034,000
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs my hon. Friend aware that, owing to the great excess of imports over exports, we are rapidly travelling along the road to ruin?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI know that the position is very serious.
§ 21. Mr. WALLACEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the import of glass bottles is prohibited; and whether, seeing that this constitutes a direct check on our exports of jam, confectionery, and many other articles, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is: The import of glass bottles is restricted to one-half of the imports of 1913. While my right hon. Friend cannot agree that the suggestion in the second part of the question has substantial foundation a larger ration of glass bottles will be permitted at an early date.
§ Mr. WALLACEIs the ration decided upon the money value or the total quantity as compared with pre-war years?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not quite sure.
§ Captain BENNHow can we keep up our export trade if we cannot get the bottles?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt would be better if these questions were reserved. We cannot debate every question.
52. Lieut-Colonel MURRAYasked the Prime Minister what is the reason for continuing the import restrictions after 1st September?
§ 53. Mr. WALLACEasked whether the import restrictions after 1st September will be the same as those at present existing; if not, on whose advice changes will be made; and whether the reason for each change, if any, will be made public?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW (Leader of the House)A full statement on this subject will be made before the Recess.
§ Captain BENNHave the reasons for restricting imports been published?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThey have been discussed in this House.
Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYWhen the Government makes its statement will the House have an opportunity of saying by its vote in the Division Lobby whether it agrees with the Government policy?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn regard to this particular matter I cannot give a promise. The statement may very likely be made on the Adjournment.
§ 56. Major HAYWARDasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have taken the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown on the question of restricting imports under the powers of Section 43 of the Customs Laws Consolidation Act of 1876?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. The answer is in the affirmative.
§ Captain BENNIs the Government acting in accordance with the advice of its Law Officers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, Sir.
§ Captain BENNIs the hon. Gentleman aware that except for the two Law Officers no legal opinion supports the legality of these restrictions?