HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 cc1875-7
4. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade if all the recommendations made in the Working Party's Report on the Pottery Industry have been carried out; what recent action has been taken; and what future action it is proposed to take.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

No action specifically related to these recommendations has been taken by the Board of Trade, nor is any such action contemplated beyond that described in my reply to a Question put to me by the hon. Member on 5th December, 1951. As I then pointed out, the majority of the recommendations are matters for the British Pottery Manufacturers' Federation or for individual pottery manufacturers.

Mr. Smith

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that this industry is making a great contribution to our export trade and that it could make a greater one? In view of that, does not he consider it his duty to get all sections of the industry together with a view to making an even greater contribution?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I certainly agree about the importance of this industry, especially for our export trade, but there are a great number of detailed recommendations here most of which are the responsibility of the industry itself.

7. Dr. Stross

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has noted the fall in the volume of exports of pottery; and whether he will give an assurance that Japanese and German pottery will not be imported into Britain as a result of further liberalisation of trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I have noted the fall in our exports of pottery with concern, but am glad to see some improvement in the last few months of this year as compared with the corresponding months of 1952.

With regard to the second part of the Question, imports of all types of domestic pottery from Western Germany are now free from quantitative restrictions as a result of the relaxation of restrictions on imports from Western Europe which I announced on 12th November in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cheadle (Mr. Shepherd). These measures do not, however, extend to Eastern Germany or Japan.

Dr. Stross

Has the President been made aware that many medium-sized potteries manufacturing in Stoke-on-Trent and exporting to Canada and the United States find that the trade has practically disappeared? In view of that, will he particularly note that it is due to competition from Japanese pottery? May we have an assurance that Japanese pottery will not be brought into the home market?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That raises a rather different question. I was asked to state the situation today, and that is what I have done.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Will my right hon. Friend say whether Japanese and German pottery carries an import duty, and if so, what percentage it is?

Mr. Thorneycroft

There is a specific rate of duty at present, but the main obstacle to Japanese pottery is the quota restriction rather than the tariff. If the pottery industry wishes to make application for a higher tariff—I am not suggesting that it should do so—it is free to do so.