§ 39. Mr. Peytonasked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to make a statement on the question of the right of free entry into this country of goods manufactured in the Colonies, particularly those Colonies where prevailing wage rates are very much lower than in the Unitied Kingdom.
§ Mr. LowMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will be referring to this matter in the course of a statement which, with the permission of the House, he will be making after Questions today on problems at present confronting the cotton textile industry.
§ Mr. PeytonWhile looking forward with some eagerness to that statement, and while expressing the hope that it will cover the situation of the gloving industry, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that during the 15 months that have elapsed since I first raised this problem of the plight of this industry competition has become increasingly severe and that, for instance, the fabric gloves imported in March of this year amount to 48,000 dozen as opposed to 4,000 dozen in the corresponding month last year? Is he also aware that this industry is really looking for action on the part of the Government and is further hoping that when this action is taken the vocabulary of the Board of 1506 Trade will be slightly wider than "bearing things in mind" and "having nothing to add"?
§ Mr. LowThis question refers not to gloves but to the right of free entry of goods manufactured in the Colonies. I appreciate what my hon. Friend is saying, and I am aware that no one has been more active than he has in pressing this matter forcibly and consistently on the Government.
§ Mr. AwberyWould it not be a better remedy to increase the wages of the low-paid workers in our Colonies?