§ 1. Mr. CHORLTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now see his way to grant some form of bounty to assist the export cotton trade, in view of the long period of depression and unemployment it has suffered from?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. RUNCIMAN)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on the 20th February, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. CHORLTONIf I ask my right hon. Friend again on 20th February, will he give me the same reply?
§ 2. Mr. CHORLTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in order to accelerate the use of Indian cotton, he will arrange for some form of rebate on cost or transport charges contingent on an increased volume of manufactured goods being taken by India?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANAs the House is aware, the question of increasing the consumption of Indian cotton in this country has for some time been under the consideration of the Lancashire Indian Cotton Committee. I am glad to say that the imports of raw cotton from India in the first nine months of this year 3 have been three times as great as the imports in the corresponding period of 1932. I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on the 20th February to the hon. and gallant Member for Accrington (Major Procter).