§ 56. Mr. HANNONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the quantity of manufactured goods imported and retained in this country during the first three months of this present year were approximately 20 per cent. higher than the quantity which was imported and retained in the year 1933; and what further measures the Government contemplate for the purpose of diminishing the competition of foreign manufactured goods in the home market?
§ Dr. BURGINI am aware of the increase to which my hon. Friend refers. I would, however, point out that imports in Class III consist largely of materials on which further manufacturing processes are carried out in this country. For instance, over one-quarter of the whole increase for the three months in question was in non-ferrous metals, including such items as copper, zinc, lead and tin. For the rest, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 8th May to the hon. Member for Ealing (Sir F. Sanderson).
§ Mr. HANNONNotwithstanding the exceptions quoted by my hon. Friend, does not the fact stated in my question reveal a serious state of affairs in regard to our import trade?
§ Dr. BURGINOn the contrary, so far from revealing any unsatisfactory state of affairs, it reveals a healthy increase and revival in trade. There is no one-way traffic in trade. We have rising exports and failing unemployment figures. In order to have an increase in total trade we must expect an increase of imports as well as an increase of exports.
§ Mr. THORNErose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is impossible to have a debate on this matter at Question Time.
§ Mr. THORNEI do not want to debate. I want to put a question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe debate had already begun before the hon. Member rose.
§ Mr. THORNEI do not want to debate. I have a very important question to put.