HC Deb 27 February 1935 vol 298 cc1120-1
52. Mr. CAPORN

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on 28th January, 1935, over 20,000 persons registered for employment in the hosiery trade were unemployed, and that during the year 1934 over 3,500,000 dozens of hosiery had been imported into this country; and whether the Government cart take any action to prevent persons profiting from the imports and sale of foreign hosiery to the detriment of the unemployed hosiery workers in this country?

Dr. BURGIN

I am aware of the facts mentioned in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and learned Member for East Leicester (Mr. Lyons) yesterday, and on 13th November last.

Mr. CAPORN

Is the Minister aware that the unemployed workers have no means of approaching the Import Duties Advisory Committee and will he request the committee to consider whether it is in the national interest that so many men should be out of employment?

Dr. BURGIN

A responsibility rests on hon. Members who ask questions about imports to familiarise themselves with the facts as to whether or not imports which may seem large are not very much smaller than a number of years ago. For instance, in 1931 the value of the imports of this article was well over £5,500,000, in 1933 it was £1,645,000, and in 1934, £1,560,000, so that instead of being a large import it is a diminishing factor.

Mr. LYONS

Is it not a fact that the number of workers unemployed in the hosiery industry in Leicester is greater than it was in 1931 because of this very large flow of imports, and will some action be taken to put into work the thousands of people who could be employed if the industry were properly safeguarded?

Mr. LEVY

In regard to the reply which the Minister has just given, what consolation are those statistics to the unemployed in the industry

Mr. CAPORN

Have not the price values of these goods fallen very considerably since 1931, and is not that a fact which anybody giving information to the country should take into account?

Mr. PALING

Are we to understand from the Minister's statement that, in spite of diminishing imports, unemployment in the industry is increasing

Dr. BURGIN

Those facts are not necessarily related.

Mr. WEST

Will the Board of Trade publish a list of names of the people who are importing these goods, so that we may know who are responsible?