§ 33. Mr. Collinsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will permit firms in this country to purchase Calcutta hessian at world prices, provided the hessian so imported is used exclusively in the export trade.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. It is an essential feature of the arrangements regarding jute that purchases should be made only by the Jute Control.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the Minister familiar with the details in a letter which I sent to him of the position of a firm in my constituency which can purchase at world prices its raw materials at 20 per cent. below the prices here and thus expand its export trade, and would he say how that could hurt the jute industry in Dundee? If the facts which I have given are correct, will he not help this firm to expand exports rather than continue these restrictions which make it impossible for it to export?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have studied the point which the hon. Gentleman put very clearly before me, and if I could help I would; but on looking at it in detail I find that it would not be consistent with these arrangements, which have advantages as well as disadvantages.