§ 40. Mr. FLEMINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that cotton goods, copies of Lancashire textiles, are being dumped on the Home trade market at prices with which the Lancashire manufacturers cannot compete; and what steps he pro poses to take in the matter?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that there has been some increase in the imports of certain kinds of cotton piece goods into this country. The question of any increase in the import duty is, in the first instance, one for the Import Duties Advisory Committee, but I would point out that retained imports of cotton piece goods amount to a fraction of 1 per cent. of the United Kingdom production of similar goods.
§ Mr. FLEMINGIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is a growing demand in Lancashire that such dumped goods be entirely prohibited, and can he say why such a policy could not be adopted?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe proper procedure is to go to the Import Duties Advisory Committee with a demand of that sort.