22. Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDE-MANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the amount of second-hand textile machinery that was exported from this country during last year, and what proportion of this went to Japan?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANParticulars of the exports of second-hand textile machinery arc not available, as exports of secondhand machinery are not recorded separately from those of new machinery.
§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESHas the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that there is a considerable volume of this second-hand textile (machinery being exported just now?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say whether there is much being exported just now, but certainly there has been some machinery sold in the past.
§ Mr. DORANWill the right hon. Gentleman declare the nationality of the people who sold this machinery?
Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANAs this is a matter of such importance in connection with the equipment of cotton 187 mills abroad, will not the right hon. Gentleman make some inquiries and let us have a statement on the subject?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have made inquiries, but I am afraid I cannot give the statistics for which my hon. Friend asks.