§ 22. Mr. HALESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that since the reduction of the duty on pottery from 50 per cent. to 20 per cent. the imports from Japan have increased by 500 per cent.; and whether, having regard to the crisis in the pottery industy, he will urge the Advisory Committee which received the appropriate application last April to issue their report at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am aware that the imports from Japan of certain types of pottery have shown a heavy increase in recent months as compared with the first four months of this year. I have no doubt that this fact is fully appreciated by the Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. HALESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that not only is this excessive dumping taking place, but that our designs are being copied and our trade marks infringed, which is resulting in a position that is jeopardising the whole prosperity of this important industry?