34. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the President of the Board of Trade by how many times imports of Indian cloth into Britain in the fourth quarter of 1954 exceeded the imports in the same quarter of 1953.
§ Mr. H. StraussImports of cotton cloth from India in the fourth quarter of 1954 were a little over three times the imports in the fourth quarter of 1953.
Mr. WilsonSince there has been this very big increase, not merely between the four quarters of 1953 and the four quarters of 1954, but an even bigger increase during the earlier months of 1955, will the Government now tell Lancashire what they propose to do about this very serious problem? The Chancellor of the Exchequer made a long speech in Manchester without saying what was going to be done. Will the hon. and learned Gentle-man tell the House?
§ Mr. StraussI cannot greatly add to the last answers given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 3rd February and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 8th February. I can only add that the Minister of State is in Lancashire today.