§ 65. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of the lace imported into this country in the years 1910 and 1911; whether the Government of Hungary is giving cash Grants, free land, and exemption for ten years from local and Imperial taxation to lace makers from England who, unable to face free foreign competition, are transferring their factories thither; and whether he will obtain official confirmation of these facts and communicate the result to this House?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)The value of the imports of "cotton lace and articles thereof" into the United Kingdom in 1910 was £2,542,000 and in 19tl £2,539,000. A large proportion of this lace is, however, re-exported, and the net imports on balance only amounted to £1,189,000 in 1910 and £1,343,000 in 1911. During the same periods the value of "cotton lace and patent net and articles thereof" of British manufacture exported from this country was £4,244,000 and £3,936,000, respectively. I am aware that the Hungarian Ministry have power to accord various encouragements to new factories in the form of monetary subventions, exemption from taxation, and otherwise, under the law of 1899 concerning the development of national industry, particulars of which were published in July, 1907, in No. 663 of the Miscellaneous Series of Consular Reports. I have no official information as to any recent accord of such State assistance to factories in British hands, but I will endeavour to obtain it.