§ 38. Mr. Peytonasked the President of the Board of Trade the numbers and values of leather, knitted and fabric gloves imported into the United Kingdom in the years 1953 and 1954.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the Official Report.
§ Mr. PeytonWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that these figures, which have been published in answer to an earlier Question this week, represent a very grave problem for this small industry? In considering the more general problems which were raised in this House yesterday, will be undertake to see that the present needs of this industry will not in any event be overlooked.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI shall certainly bear in mind the representations which my hon. Friend has made.
| Following are the figures | ||||
| — | 1953 | 1954 | ||
| Th. doz. pairs | £'000 | Th. doz. pairs | £'000 | |
| Leather | 34 | 299 | 36 | 274 |
| Knitted, etc. (including mittens) | 365 | 548 | 694 | 907 |
| Fabric | 49 | 99 | 226 | 368 |
| TOTAL | 448 | 946 | 956 | 1,549 |
§ 39. Mr. Peytonasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to safeguard employment and production in the United Kingdom glove industry against imports from Hong Kong in view of the recent increase.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 9th December last.
§ Mr. PeytonIn regard to the question of employment and production in this industry, will my right hon. Friend recall that a very large proportion of the work in the industry is done by outworkers, and that the unemployment figures are therefore wholly misleading? Will he bear in mind that at the present time both employers and workers feel a very considerable degree of anxiety about the situation?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI shall bear in mind all the relevant considerations, but among them I shall have to remember the fact that the United Kingdom sold about twice as much to Hong Kong as it bought from Hong Kong in 1954.