9. Viscountess ASTORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that open-mesh silk hose are not manufactured in Great Britain, he will consider consulting the Import Duties Advisory Committee as to the advisability of reducing the duty on imported hose of this variety?
§ Dr. BURGINI am informed that open-mesh silk stockings are made in this country and that, if desired, the National Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers' Associations would be prepared to give information as to sources of supply. Any representations for a variation of the present rates of duty should, of course, be made to the Import Duties Advisory Committee by the United Kingdom trade interests concerned.
Viscountess ASTORI am perfectly aware that certain mesh silk stockings are made in this country, but there are others which are not made here, and is 139 it the policy of the Government to keep out of the country certain qualities of stockings which we are not able to make in this country? Is the hon. Member aware that I have gone to the manufacturers and shown them this particular type which they say they cannot make, and that if he will only allow these types to come into the country our manufacturers can get busy and produce the same quality stockings which many of us desire to wear.
§ Dr. BURGINIf the Noble Lady will undertake to wear them in this House, I shall be happy to make her a present of open mesh silk stockings made by manufacturers in this country. The question says that open mesh silk hose are not manufactured in this country. That is not the case.