39. Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDEMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has been able to obtain figures of the amount of cotton goods imported into this country from Russia during the last quarter of 1929?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe total declared value of cotton goods of all descriptions, so far as they are distinguished in the import list, imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Russia during the last quarter of 1929, amounted to £1. The consignment consisted of cotton lace.
Dr. VERNON DAVIESDoes the President of the Board of Trade think it possible for goods to come from Russia in a roundabout way, so that we are not able to find them out?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should like to have notice of that question. I ought to tell the hon. Member that on the information before me there is no proof of the recent imports alleged in some quarters in Lancashire.
Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANThe other day the right hon. Member informed us that the amount was something like £5,000. Can he tell us why it has gone down to £1?
§ Mr. GRAHAMIf the hon. Member looks at the other reply ho will see that it refers to a somewhat different point.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these figures can be entirely relied upon? Is it not the cause that importation takes place, but that it is not reflected in the figures of the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have indicated in reply to a previous question that it is difficult. I have the matter still under inquiry, and all I can say is that on the statistics before us there is no proof of these imports.