§ 41. Dr. Strossasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has noted that exports of domestic earthenware and china have fallen since October, 1955; what is the reason for this fall; and what he proposes to do to reverse the trend.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Sir David Eccles)Exports of domestic pottery were lower in 1956 than in 1955. The fall is mainly due to a reduction in exports to Australia following the imposition of import restrictions there. I hope that the improvement in the Australian balance of payments, which has already enabled the Commonwealth Government to make certain import relaxations, will continue and that further relaxations will be made from which the pottery industry will benefit.
§ Dr. StrossHas not the President of the Board of Trade noted that, since the imposition of the 30 per cent. Purchase Tax in the Budget of 1955, this industry has lost a good deal of its capacity in manufacture and in exporting and has also lost 7,000 of its workers? Will he bring those facts to the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ Sir D. EcclesQuestions of Purchase Tax are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The export figures show that of the drop of £1¼ million £1 million is due to Australian import restrictions.
§ 42. Dr. Strossasked the President of the Board of Trade how many pottery firms went into liquidation between 1945 and October, 1955; and how many since the latter date.
§ Sir D. EcclesLeaving aside voluntary liquidations, on which I have no information, the number of failures in the pottery industry in the periods mentioned was 10 and two, respectively.