§ 43. Major Lyonsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the de-restriction on the manufacture of low-priced unornamented utility cups and saucers is having any effect upon the availability of such articles; and whether, in view of the concentration of certain mass-producers of these articles in other firms of dissimilar manufacture, he will give some concession in export restrictions to those able to manufacture these commodities but who have no available material for the purpose under present control?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Captain Waterhouse)The general licence for the production of undecorated ware only became effective on 1st December. It is therefore too soon to judge the effect of the arrangement to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers as it must necessarily take some little time for manufacturers to adjust their production and for supplies to reach the retailers. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not clear what my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind since there is at present no restriction on exports of decorated or other pottery and no control of the essential raw materials of the pottery industry.
§ Major LyonsIn view of the difficulty there is in getting such articles, will my hon. and gallant Friend consider representations from the trade showing how impossible it is, in view of the doubtful type of concentration taking place, to get these materials and see if some step can be taken to put these cheap goods back on the market?
§ Captain WaterhouseThe Board of Trade are always glad to consider representations from the trade.
Mr. WalkdenWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman consult with the workers 2071 who have to pay for a cup and saucer three times what they had to pay in 1939?