§ 6. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that clog soles are being imported into this country at the present moment from Germany: whether he is aware that the price for these clog soles works out at 5s. 585 per dozen pairs against the cost price for the same soles in the United Kingdom of 11s. per dozen pairs; and whether it is the intention of the Government to take any action to prevent the dumping of German goods into this country?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI am not aware of the facts cited by my hon. Friend, but I shall be glad to consider any evidence he may be in a position to send me in support of his statements. As regards the last part of the question, I would remind my hon. Friend of the statement made a few days ago by the Leader of the House that a Bill dealing with this matter would be introduced at a very early date.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLMay I ask my right hon. Friend if he can say quite definitely when this Bill will be introduced?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI anticipate that notice will be given to-morrow that the Bill will be introduced thereafter; and the Second Heading taken some time next week.
§ Colonel GREIGIs it intended to include wooden clogs as one of the key industries of this country?
§ Sir A. GEDDESI hardly like to anticipate the terms of the Bill, but I do not think I would be divulging any secret if I stated that wooden clogs would not be included in the list of key industries in the Bill.
Dr. MURRAYIf the facts are as stated and there is the difference between the 11s. and the 5s., will the manufacturers be charged with profiteering?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIt is quite impossible to answer a question of that nature without investigation.
§ Mr. TERRELLWithout regarding it as a key industry—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must pass on; we have a large number of questions to get through.
§ 15. Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the arrival of the steamship "Weimar" at Leith from Hamburg, containing a large quantity of German manufactured goods, including toys and musical instruments; whether he will state what is the Government policy as to the importation of German manufactured goods; and, if the policy is contained in 586 the Prime Minister's speech on trade policy, whether he will inform the House the page in the OFFICIAL REPORT where that policy is declared?
§ Sir A. GEDDESMy attention had not been drawn especially to the cargo mentioned, but I understand that it includes goods of the nature indicated. There are at present no special restrictions on the importation of German goods, except in so far as they are the products of the "key industries" specified in the list which appeared in the Press on the 22nd August. The proposals of the Government as to the prevention of any Hood of imports consequent upon collapsed exchanges were outlined by the Prime Minister on the 18th August (column 1299 of the OFFICIAL REPORT).
§ Mr. TERRELLIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any steps to control the importation of goods of this character?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIf the hon. Member will look at the Return which I gave to the House last week on the value of imports from Germany, he will see that it is a mere bagatelle.
§ Mr. TERRELLAre they not increasing in volume?
§ Mr. HOUSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman not see his way to prohibit the importation of German and Austrian toys, with a view to fostering the development of the toy industry in this country, which is now providing employment for disabled men?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThe total amount of German toys coming to this country and available in Germany is so small that if they all came here it would not seriously damage the British toy trade.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWould not the prohibition of these imported foreign toys foster our home trade?