§ 99. Sir BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the past three years imports of furniture have averaged nearly £1,000,000, or nearly double the value of the imports for the years 1920–24, and that unemployment in the furniture trade now stands at 18.7 per cent.; and whether he proposes to take any steps to check this particular class of imports?
§ Major COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The facts concerning this trade will be reviewed in relation to the powers for which the Government is now asking Parliament, but I am at present unable to make any further statement on the matter.
§ 101. Lord DUNGLASSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of fruit in the form of fruit pulp imported into this country up to the end of October, 1931; and how the amount compares with the corresponding period of last year?
§ Major COLVILLEThe total quantity of fruit pulp in syrup imported into the United Kingdom during the first 10 months of 1931 was 4,846 cwts compared with 1,113 cwts. during the corresponding period of 1930. Fruit pulp of other kinds would be included under the general heading of fruit not liable to duty as such, preserved without sugar, other than canned or bottled. Under this head the imports during the first 10 months of 1931 were 647,801 cwts., as compared with 511,694 cwts. during the corresponding period of 1930, but how much of this was fruit pulp cannot be stated.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case that the preservative that is put into this fruit pulp is the cause of most of the indigestion in this country?