§ 39. Major COLVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has figures showing how the rate of importation of leather and fabric gloves and the British production of these articles has been affected during the past three months?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHAs recorded in the Monthly Trade Accounts, the imports of leather and fabric gloves increased considerably in January last compared with the preceding months or a year ago; in the case of fabric gloves the increase was to a considerable extent seasonal. With regard to the production of leather and fabric gloves, it would appear, from returns furnished by the Joint Industrial Council for the Glove-snaking Industry in respect of a substantial proportion of the industry, that the numbers of fabric and of leather gloves cut declined quarter by quarter throughout 1930.
§ Major COLVILLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is great indignation among the workers in this industry at the way in which their livelihood has been endangered by the removal of Safeguarding?
§ Brigadier - General Sir HENRY CROFTCan the hon. Gentleman say whether these imports represent the employment of some 3,000 persons?
§ Mr. SMITHI could not say, but I think it is well to point out that the January importations always show a big rise; and also that the home production has been steadily decreasing during 1930.