10. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade the foreign countries and members of the Commonwealth which place limitations either by tariff or otherwise on the import of British textile machinery, giving details of such limitations.
Mr. H. WilsonAs the answer to the first part of the Question is long, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The information desired in the last part would involve a mass of details which could not, in my view, be given by means of a Parliamentary answer, but, if my hon. Friend will let me know the particular countries he has in mind I will see that 296 the relevant details he requires are sent to him.
§ Following is the answer:
§ According to the information in my possession, a number of countries restrict,. by import licensing or by the refusal of exchange permits, the entry of United Kingdom textile machinery. The extent of the restriction, of course, varies from country to country and from time to time. The following countries fall into this. class:
§ Canada.*South Africa. New Zealand. India. Sweden.*Norway. Denmark. Finland.*Iceland. Faroes. France.†Italy. Spain. Portugal. Western Germany.†Austria. Greece. Turkey. Yugoslavia.†Czechoslovakia.*Hungary. Persia.*Syria. Lebanon.*Iraq. Israel. Saudi Arabia. Ethiopia. Cyrenaica.*Libya. Tripolitania.*Afghanistan. China. Korea. Indonesia.†Costa Rica. Nicaragua. Bolivia. Chile. Ecuador. Argentina. Uruguay.*Paraguay. Burma.*Japan. Soviet Union. Poland. Roumania. Bulgaria. Albania. Brazil. Colombia.
§ *In these countries licences are, as a rule, granted for the importation of United Kingdom textile machinery.
§ † In these countries quotas have been established for United Kingdom textile machinery.
11. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade what limitations are now imposed on the export of textile machinery to countries of Eastern Europe.
Mr. H. WilsonLicences must be obtained for the export to all destinations of card clothing and of textile machinery manufactured before the 30th April, 1941. There are no other restrictions on exports to Eastern Europe.
Mr. HaleCould that answer be given the widest publicity in view of statements. constantly made in reactionary circles. around the "Daily Worker" that there are limitations of that kind? Could the Minister say what chances there are of expanding this trade?
Mr. WilsonI hope my hon. Friend will co-operate in that publicity. We have to limit card clothing exports because of shortage. Second-hand textile machinery has to be limited to prevent a sudden uprooting of plant from existing mills. The prospect of further extension depends not on us, or on any controls imposed by this Government; but upon the willingness of East European countries to take British textile machinery.
12. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to future trade possibilities with China, with special reference to the question of the orders for textile machinery already placed for execution in this country.
Mr. H. WilsonNo, Sir. It is not yet possible to make a realistic assessment of the future trade possibilities with China. Our traders, including exporters of textile machinery, are encountering many difficulties due in part to the Nationalist "blockade," in part to conditions in China and in part to uncertainty about the trade controls imposed by the Central People's Government.
Mr. HaleIs the Minister aware that very large orders were placed for textile machinery before recent events in China, that substantial payments were allowed on account, and that these orders are of vital importance for the maintenance of employment in Oldham and elsewhere? Will he indicate how soon these difficulties will be resolved and how we can help to clear them?
Mr. WilsonOrders for textile machinery amounting to £10.8 million were placed before the events to which my hon. Friend referred, but it is quite uncertain how much textile machinery will be bought by China under the present Government.