HC Deb 27 January 1931 vol 247 cc776-7
17 and 18. Mr. O'CONNOR

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the value of the imports into this country of finished hats ready for wear for the six months ended 31st December, 1929, 30th June, 1930, and 31st December, 1930, respectively;

(2) whether, in view of the increase in the imports of finished hats ready for wear which are not at present separately distinguished from hoods and unfinished hats in the Board of Trade Returns, he will arrange for separate figures to be given in future of the numbers of finished hats ready for wear?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

Particulars of the imports into the United Kingdom of finished hats ready for wear are not available for the reason that, on the documents which importers furnish to the Customs authorities, they are not required to distinguish between finished and unfinished hats. Any change in this respect could only take effect at the beginning of a statistical year, i.e., in January. The classification for the current year has already been decided upon, but the question of separating finished and unfinished hats will be considered by the special Committee which will meet in the autumn of this year to consider changes in the form and scope of the Trade Returns for 1932.