HC Deb 20 March 1952 vol 497 cc2530-2

The following Questions stood upon the Order Paper:

15 and 16. Mr. C. S. TAYLOR

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state his reason for refusing to grant licences to permit the decoration of pottery for the home trade, despite the fact that licences are issued in limited quantities to those wishing to manufacture as well as to decorate pottery for this market;

(2) whether, in view of the shortage of decorators in the pottery industry, he will consider issuing licences to decorate pottery to skilled persons not wholly employed in this industry.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Taylor—Mr. Willey.

Mr. Taylor

Could I have an answer to Question No. 15?

Mr. Speaker

I called the hon. Member but he did not rise.

Mr. Taylor

There was a tremendous noise and I did not hear you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

I am not responsible for that. The hon. Member must be on the qui vive.

Mr. Taylor

I was on the qui vive, and was waiting for you to call my Question, but we could not hear any of the names called, certainly not in this part of the House, because of the noise proceeding from hon. Members opposite.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member must remonstrate with those making the noise. Mr. Willey.

At end of Questions—

Mr. Speaker

I understand that the President of the Board of Trade desires to answer Question No. 15, and I have consented.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

With permission, I will answer this and Question No. 16 together.

The sale of decorated pottery on the home market is generally prohibited in order to promote exports. To this general ruling there are four main exceptions. Licences are granted for limited quantities of export rejects, fancy ware which is difficult to export, pottery made by artist potters, and pottery decorated by individual decorators who can prove hardship.

Mr. Taylor

May I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, for allowing these Questions to be answered?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he really thinks that the small men would compete in any serious way with the big pottery manufacturers if they were given licences? Secondly, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the export rejects scheme is not being abused at the present time?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not mind how many people compete with the large potters. What I am concerned with is that all the decorators we can get hold of are used on export work.

Mr. Thomas Williams

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea where we can get these rejects?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I understand they are obtainable in the shops, but one has to be lucky to get hold of them.