§ 20. Mr. Holtasked the President of the Board of Trade how much rayon staple fibre was imported into the United Kingdom in 1953; and from which foreign country most of this came.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftFigures of imports of rayon staple fibre are not available. Imports of artificial silk cut staple fibre including rayon staple fibre in 1953 amounted to nearly 2 3/4 million pounds weight. About one-third of the total was supplied by Norway and most of the remainder by Western Germany and Switzerland.
§ Mr. HoltIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these imports represent a very small proportion of the production of this country, and that the duty on them is 37½ percent.? Is he also aware that the Minister of State, Board of Trade, in an answer on 23rd February, seemed to suggest that, because the imports were a very small fraction of the total production of the country, the height of duty was in no way a handicap? Does he not think it is time he looked into the matter himself and used some initiative?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThat seems to raise a rather wider issue. The Question asked only for figures.