§ 26. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that many of our stocking manufacturers in this country have not been allowed the dollars with which to buy suitable machinery for the making of more durable nylon stockings; that the purchase of such machinery would assist our export figures; and if he will take steps to remedy this.
§ 28. Mrs. Mannasked the President of the Board of Trade the nature of the restrictions which are placed on nylon stocking manufacturers regarding the import of machinery which would enable them to compete with other countries in exporting a more durable, non-ladder nylon stocking.
§ Mr. MackesonFully - fashioned hosiery machinery is available from certain non-dollar countries and may be imported from most of these sources under open general licence. For balance of payments reasons, machinery imports from the dollar area are strictly controlled, but it is expected that during 1952 and 1953 nearly 200 fully-fashioned hosiery machines will have been imported from the United States. In addition, my right hon. Friend has recently arranged for licences to be issued for the import of a limited number of fine-gauge machines over the next 12 months. I do not accept the implication that the use of American machines would make nylon stockings more durable and I am not satisfied that the expenditure of more dollars than are already being provided would give a compensating increase in our exports.
§ Miss BurtonWhile thanking the Minister for that reply, might I ask him if he is aware that I really entered this field because I wanted to ask him if the Government would ask the manufacturers in this country if they would consider the possibility of manufacturing stockings with several different leg lengths to each foot size? Is he aware that many women have short feet and long legs or long feet and short legs? Would he recommend to the manufacturers that if we could have, say, three lengths of stocking to each size of foot both our export and our home markets would be helped?
§ Mr. MackesonI should like to discuss that matter with the hon. Lady.
Miss WardIs my hon. Friend aware that whatever the position about legs, machinery or anything else, nylon stockings really could be improved? Will he kindly apply his mind to that so that we may have better quality?
§ Mr. MackesonI must refer my hon. Friend to the original Question.
§ Mrs. MannIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been a great reluctance on the part of British manufacturers to enter the fish-net, non-ladder stocking trade in spite of the fact the women of this country want that type of stocking——
§ Mrs. Mann—and would he, while attending to the long leg, short leg of the female stocking, also direct his attention to the same thing along the Front Bench in male socks—short leg, long leg, visible bare leg——
§ Mr. MackesonI should be very sorry to interfere with the hon. Lady's Friends. We have made a serious effort to help this important industry to produce and export more.
§ Mr. BottomleyIn view of the acceptance by the Minister that the volume of overseas production is superior to our own, would not he agree that British technical skill is in many respects superior to that of our foreign competitors? Would not he agree that British manufacturers should be asked to provide the necessary machines?
§ Mr. MackesonI am very grateful to the right hon. Gentleman. As I understand it, we need to import only one or two specialised types of machine.