§ 38. Sir BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the four-monthly period from January to April of this year the importations of goods covered by the Abnormal Importations Act showed an average monthly total of £695,500, and that during the six months, May to October, 1932, when these goods were subject to a lower duty generally of 20 per cent. the average monthly imports totalled £1,141,700, an increase of 64 per cent.; and whether he proposes to take any steps to check this increase in the imports of foreign manufactured goods which can be made in this country?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)The value of the imports of goods liable to duty under the Abnormal Importation (Customs Duties) Act during the period January to April, 1932, was considerably greater than the value mentioned by my hon. Friend, but I am aware that the aggregate imports of these goods have increased since the revocation of the Orders made under that Act. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I would invite his attention to the reply which was given on the 29th November to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft), a copy of which I am sending him.