§ Mr. HODGEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether aniline oil is placed as contraband of war on the List issued last Friday by the Government, and is he aware that previous to the War Germany dominated neutral markets, and that by its inclusion unemployment will result, and the endeavour to capture neutral markets be prevented?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI think my hon. Friend is under a misunderstanding. It is true that previous to the War Germany was the largest producer of aniline and other artificial dyestuffs which are largely used in the British textile and other manufactures. Efforts are now being made to 777 fill the gap by extending the production of these dyestuffs in the United Kingdom, and with that object and also with the object of diminishing the shortage in the interval the export of artificial dyes and of coal-tar products for use in dye manufacture has been prohibited. The effect, it is hoped, will be to decrease and not to increase unemployment in the important groups of trades dependent on dyestuffs.