§ 33. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the retained imports of carpets, in square yards, in the first 10 months of the present year are higher than in the corresponding period of any year prior to 1927; and, in the circumstances, can he state what further steps he proposes to take to help the industry to obtain sufficient protection to deal with the rapidly growing imports which, in the first 10 months of the present year, were over 30 per cent. greater than in the corresponding period of last year?
§ Dr. BURGINI am aware of the facts referred to. The Import Duties Advisory Committee, as my hon. Friend is probably aware, recently considered an application for an increased duty on carpets, and decided that they could make no recommendation in the matter. I observe in this connection that nearly half our imports of carpets now come from Empire countries; that imports from foreign countries this year are about one-third of such imports in 1930 and 1931, and amount to not more than one-tenth of home production; that exports are increasing; and that employment in the carpet trade has greatly improved in recent years.