§ 17. Sir JOHN WARDLAW-MILNEasked the President of the Board of 2354 Trade what proportion of the carpets imported into this country and retained here have a declared value of £1 per yard or over; and what the yardage of this proportion is?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI regret that the desired information is not available.
§ Sir J. WARDLAW-MILNEAs the right hon. Gentleman cannot give me the figures, is he aware of the fact that there are very large imports of carpets from £1 to 22s. declared value and, further, that on all these carpets the recent duty imposed of 4s. 6d. a square yard is actually less protection to the manufacturers of this country than existed before the change was made?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am afraid that I cannot argue that out with my hon. Friend, because the information on which it is based is not available.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the information become available in the right hon. Gentleman's Department sooner or later, or are we to remain in ignorance?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANIt will not be sooner, but I do not know what may happen later.
§ Mr. MAXTONHas not the right hon. Gentleman some measure of control over what will happen, either sooner or later?