§ 8. Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of gloves, on which duty is now chargeable, imported during the first three mouths of 1925 as compared with the first three months of this year; has he any knowledge of any new factories being opened in this country; and can he state whether the depression that has existed in this industry is becoming less?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERdeclared value of the imports of gloves of kinds now chargeable with duty was, for the first three months of 1925, £1,001,572, and for the corresponding period of 1926, £284,476. I am not aware of any new factories, but I am informed by the trade that several of the existing concerns are being extended, and that there has been a marked improvement in employment.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman give the corresponding loss of re-export trade and also the corresponding loss of export trade?
§ Sir H. CROFTDoes not the President of the Board of Trade think it more desirable to find employment for our people than to consider the re-export trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am satisfied from the information that has reached me that the glove trade in this country is expanding to the benefit of all concerned.
§ 11. Mr. B. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade the quantities of gloving leather produced in and imported into this country during the first quarter of 1925 and 1926, respectively?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understand that leather for glove making is not always identifiable as such, and it is not separately classified in the official returns.