HC Deb 14 December 1943 vol 395 cc1363-5
3. Mr. Ivor Thomas

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that American woollen and worsted manufacturers may now buy and use wool without limit, whereas British users of wool are strictly limited and controlled; and, as British woollen and worsted manufacturers in some markets are in competition with them, whether he will now allow some relaxation in the restrictions upon the use of wool in this country?

4 and 5. Mr. Hubert Beaumont

asked the President of the Board of Trade, (1) in view of the possibility that in international post-war trade Britain's role will be producer of high-class goods and as, for our woollen and worsted cloth, the United States has been one our best markets, will he consider whether consistent with the war policy, it would be possible to allow a moderate export of goods to the United States?

(2) Whether he is aware that, with the exception of a small quantity of hand-manufactured woollens, the Government have, since the end of May, refused to issue further licences to export British woollen and worsted goods to the United States; that this prohibition is resented by American importers, some of whom have long confined themselves to the distribution of British goods; and whether, as this prohibition must have disastrous consequences on our future export of woollen and worsted goods to the United States which will be necessary to us after the war, he will remove this prohibition?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones) on 2nd November, His Majesty's Government consider it necessary to give priority to the essential needs of the home market and of the Empire. The total quantity of wool piece goods available for export is barely sufficient to meet minimum Empire requirements, and I am afraid that no relaxation of the restrictions on export to the United States or Latin America is possible at present.

Mr. Thomas

Is my right hon. Friend fully seized with the importance of maintaining the Yorkshire woollen trade in the post-war years?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir. I have had a number of consultations with those concerned with the woollen and worsted industry, and we are well aware of its importance, but the immediate question is that our own people and the Empire must come first.

Sir Granville Gibson

Does not my right hon. Friend consider that he is pushing this question of restrictions too far and murdering the export trade? If he is so anxious to help the Empire, why does he refuse a licence to export to our oldest Colony, Newfoundland?

Mr. Dalton

I am not restricting the export trade more than the conditions of labour and material necessitate. The bottleneck in the export trade is one of labour rather than of material, and I say that we should export to members of the family in the Empire before we export to other people when things are short.

Mr. Mathers

In the right hon. Gentleman's consideration of this matter will he bear in mind that if we are to have the highest quality of these goods, we must pay attention to the Scottish woollen industry?

Mr. Dalton

We al ways have a special thought for Scotland in our minds, and there are some special arrangements with regard to it.

Sir G. Gibson

If, as the right hon. Gentleman says, he is looking after the interests of the Empire, why does he refuse to grant a licence to export to Newfoundland?

Mr. Dalton

That is a particular point, and if my hon. Friend will put a Question down, I will be glad to answer it.

Mr. Campbell

If the bottleneck is labour, will the right hon. Gentleman consider allowing the woollen manufacturers of Northern Ireland, where labour is surplus, to provide a greater export?

Mr. Dalton

We shall be glad to look into that too.