HC Deb 13 December 1938 vol 342 cc1776-81
20. Mr. Day

asked the President of the Board of Trade the declared value of raw cotton and unmanufactured cotton-waste exported from the United Kingdom for the two years ended the last convenient date and registered during that period as consigned to Germany and Italy?

Mr. Stanley

As the answer involves a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Day

Is it not a fact that they have increased 10 or 12 times since 1933?

Mr. Stanley

No, Sir.

Following is the answer:

Government would then be prepared to put before Parliament.

Mr. Petherick

Before bringing in such a Bill, would my right hon. Friend bear in mind the unlamented decease of the Milk Bill?

Mr. Stanley

It does not seem to be at all relevant. One Bill deals with milk, and the other with cotton.

Mr. A. V. Alexander

Will there be an opportunity for those interests concerned with the Bill and not on the committee to have a sight of the draft Bill before it is adopted by Parliament?

Mr. Stanley

The intention is to circulate, not the draft Bill, but suggested Clauses of the Bill, at the earliest possible date, in order to enable the industries to express formal disagreement or agreement, and to enable any other interests to submit their views to the Board of Trade.

Mr. De la Bère

Is this not to be a further example of rationalisation?

Mr. Sutcliffe

Will my right hon. Friend do his best to see that this legislation has an early place?

Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman

Will this be an agreed Measure?

Mr. Stanley

I am afraid it is a Lancashire Bill, and it is rather early to expect an agreed Measure.

30. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the resolution adopted at a meeting of members of the Cotton Yarn Price Agreement held in Manchester on 6th December, 1938, requesting His Majesty's Government to interest itself more keenly in the problems of the Lancashire textile industry; and whether he has any observations to make on this matter?

Mr. Stanley

I cannot accept the implication that His Majesty's Government has not taken the keenest interest in the problems of the Lancashire textile industry. As regards export markets, the resolution to which the hon. Member refers disregards the action which has been taken in connection with quotas imposed in the colonies on foreign cotton piece-goods, the Trade Agreements con-chided with the Dominions, and the Trade Agreement just concluded with the United States. In addition I am answering questions to-day by the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Burke) on the negotiations -with India and by the hon. Member for Oldham (Mr. Kerr) on other trade negotiations in prospect. With regard to proposals for the reorganisation of the cotton industry, I would refer to the answer I have just given to the hon. Members for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson) and Bury (Mr. Chorlton).

Mr. Davies

Is it not the fact that, in spite of all that the right hon. Gentleman and his Government have been trying to do, this industry is still declining?

Mr. Stanley

After considerable improvement last year, it is quite true that during the last months the industry has been going through a bad period, and I hope that some of the measures now proposed will assist the industry to emerge from it.

Mr. Levy

Is it not true to say that the decline is outside the control either of the industry or of the Department concerned?

32. Mr. Hamilton Kerr

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade agreements are now under negotiation or contemplation which may bring benefit of any kind to the cotton textile trade?

Mr. Stanley

Negotiations are proceeding with India, Burma and Switzerland for new or revised trade agreements: with Chile, for a new Commercial Treaty, and with Colombia, for a Commercial Treaty to replace the existing treaty, which the Colombian Government have given notice to terminate. I cannot at present say how far these various negotiations are likely to bring benefit to the cotton industry, but this is an object which His Majesty's Government are keeping well in mind in these, as in all other negotiations.

Mr. Kerr

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the South American countries purchase a certain number of Japanese cotton goods but sell very little in return to Japan?

33. Mr. Kerr

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give an assurance that the Government are prepared to give financial or other assistance to the cotton export trade of this country, in order to enable it to meet recently developed forms of foreign competition, provided that the industry is so organised that Government assistance can be given to it as a unit?

Mr. Stanley

The proposals for the reorganisation of the cotton industry which are being put forward by the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations will contain various provisions designed to assist the export trade and also provide for financial assistance being available to the industry for certain purposes from Exchequer funds. As I said in reply to the hon. Members for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson) and Bury (Mr. Chorlton), the final form of these proposals will receive urgent consideration by the Government.

34. Mr. Kerr

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the recent bulk purchases of wheat from Rumania, any suggestion was made to Rumania that she should arrange in return to increase her imports of British textile goods; and whether he can give an assurance that whenever any further bulk purchases are made, consideration will be given to the desirability of obtaining some compensatory advantage for the British cotton textile industry?

Mr. Stanley

Under the terms of the Anglo-Rumanian Payments Agreement of 2nd September, 1938, which was issued as a Command Paper (Cmd. 5840), the effect of the purchase referred to is to increase considerably the amount of exchange available to pay for Rumanian imports of United Kingdom textiles and other goods.

Commodity. Applicants. Result.
(a) Applications for increase of duty.
Cotton fabric gloves Joint Industrial Council for the Glove Making Industries, and the Association of Fabric Glove Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (No. 8) Order, 1933.
Lace and Embroidery Federation of Lace and Embroidery Employers' Associations Additional Import Duties (No. 13) Order, 1933.
Handkerchief and Embroidery Association.
Bleached Cotton Linters Bleachers' Association, Limited Additional Import Duties (No. 18) Order, 1933.
Elastic Cords, etc. British Federation of Elastic Web Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (No. 7) Order, 1935.
Bootlaces British Federation of Textile Smallwares Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (No. 2 1) Order, 1935.
Certain Plaited Tubular Braids Insulated Sleeving Manufacturers' Association. No recommendation made.
Oil-baize and other Oil-cloth Association of British Oil Baize and Leather Cloth Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (No. 30) Order, 1935.
Cut weft pile fabrics Ad hoc Committee of Velvet Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (Nos. 17 and 20) Orders, 1936. Additional Import Duties (No. 12) Order, 1937.
Cut weft and cut warp pile fabrics in small pieces. Ad hoc Committee of Velvet Manufacturers. No recommendation made.
Flags of any country in the British Empire, and flags resembling them and other articles suitable for use in connection with the coronation. Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Association. Additional Import Duties (No. 30) Order, 1936.
Handkerchiefs Ad hoc Committee of Manchester Cotton Handkerchief Manufacturers. Additional Import Duties (No. 3) Order, 1938.
55. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what representations have been made by any section of the cotton trade to the Import Duties Advisory Committee; by whom; and with what result?

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Euan Wallace)

I presume the hon. Member is referring to representations for changes in duties. The practice of the Import Duties Advisory Committee is not to disclose what applications are before them until a stage is reached at which other interests besides those of the applicants require to be considered, when the case is advertised. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of advertised applications made by organisations related with the cotton trade.

Following is the list:

Commodity. Applicants. Result.
(b) Applications for removal of duty.
Gum arabic … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 8) Order, 1933.
Sumac leaf … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 8) Order, 1934, and Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 12) Order, 1937.
Gum tragacanth … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 8) Order, 1934.
Persian berries … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers. Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 8) Order, 1934.
Quercitron Bark Extract … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 8) Order, 1934.
Cassava (tapioca flour) … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order, 1935.
Farina … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order, 1935.
Wheat starch … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. No recommendation made.
Dextrine (farina) … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. No recommendation made.
Magnesium sulphate … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. No recommendation made.
Oxalic acid … … Allied Association of Bleachers, Dyers, Printers and Finishers. Import Duties (Exemptions) (No. I) Order, 1936—subsequently became chargeable with Key Industry Duty.