§ 40. Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade how many dollars have been allocated for the importation of women's leather shoes from Canada and the U.S.A.; whether a ceiling price has been fixed to prevent luxury shoes being imported; and why these dollars cannot be used for purchasing either hides and skin, or leather, so as to provide greater employment and more footwear in this country.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe value of imports of women's leather shoes from the United States and Canada during 1947 is not expected to exceed £130,000 or approximately 520,000 dollars. A reasonable average price has been agreed with both countries for the bulk of these shoes, although a small proportion will be admitted without any restriction in order that the best of style and design may be available to stimulate our production. These imports do not prejudice our purchases of hides and leather, additional quantities of which are also being imported so as to increase our leather supplies as far as possible.
§ Mr. OsborneWill the bulk of those shoes have to come within the utility specifications, and will they have to be sold within the maximum utility prices?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, they cannot because the type of manufacture is different. 1374 Therefore, they cannot conform to the utility specification but, as I have said, reasonable prices have been fixed for the bulk of them.
§ Sir William DarlingIs the President of the Board of Trade not overlooking the recommendations of the working party which enjoined that any minimum quality standards imposed upon the domestic industry should be correspondingly imposed upon imported footwear?
§ Sir S. CrippsWe are doing that, and that is why I say arrangements are being made as to quota and price.