HC Deb 23 November 1933 vol 283 cc250-1
35. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the representations received from the manufacturers concerned in opposition to the proposal that printing inks and lake pigments should be excluded from the Dyestuffs Act, he has any statement to make on the matter?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)

The representations referred to were carefully considered before it was announced that the Government had decided to adopt the recommendations of the Import Duties Advisory Committee regarding the dyestuffs industry and that a Bill to give effect to those recommendations would be introduced during the present Session. The Committee recommended that the importation of the goods referred to should not be prohibited.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what steps he proposes to take to protect the industries concerned by means of tariffs, if they are to lose the protection of the Dyestuffs Act?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot make any announcement on that, at the moment.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that great anxiety exists among these people, who do not know what their future is going to be after about two months from now?

36. Mr. WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the printing-ink trade as a result of the Dyestuffs Act in respect of output, employment, wages, quality, and prices?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The Joint Industrial Council of the printing-ink and roller-making industry have informed the Board of Trade that between the years 1913 and 1930, the output and the number of workpeople in the printing-ink industry increased by 100 per cent., the wage bill by 350 per cent. and selling prices by 40 per cent. I have no reason to think that any substantial change has occurred since then, and I understand that British printing-inks are of high quality.

Mr. WILLIAMS

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that this proves conclusively that the Dyestuffs Act has been of enormous benefit to this industry and has increased its efficiency?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I think that is so.