HC Deb 03 April 1958 vol 585 cc1361-4
20. Mr. Leavey

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to satisfy himself that no textile cloth or made-up goods, purporting to be manufactured in Hong Kong, originate in China.

The President of the Board of Trade (Sir David Eccles)

It has been impossible to obtain concrete evidence of any such evasion. Nonetheless, we are reviewing the procedures to satisfy ourselves that goods purporting to have been manufactured in Hong Kong have, in fact, been manufactured there.

Mr. Leavey

While I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that assurance and it will be some comfort at least to Lancashire to know that this matter is being further pursued, may I ask him whether he is aware that it is a source of real anxiety? Will he pursue the matter vigorously, having regard to the fact that it is not only a problem of the moment in Lancashire, but almost certainly will be one of the most serious problems we have to face if and when a Free Trade Area comes into being?

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, Sir; I will. In the meantime, if my hon. Friend has any evidence, I shall be glad to have it.

21. Mr. Leavey

asked the President of the Board of Trade the purpose of the Hong Kong visit of the Permanent Secretary of the Board of Trade.

22. Mr. Peyton

asked the President of the Board of Trade the reasons for the visit of his Permanent Secretary to Hone Kong; and if, during that visit, consideration may be given to the limitation, on a voluntary basis, of the export of gloves to the United Kingdom.

Sir D. Eccles

It is hoped that further discussions will shortly take place between the Lancashire cotton industry and the cotton industries of India and Pakistan with a view to securing a voluntary limitation of their exports of cotton cloth to the United Kingdom. Sir Frank Lee is in Hong Kong to explore the possibility of voluntary arrangements being made for exports of cotton cloth from the Colony. His discussions cannot he extended to other goods. Cotton presents entirely special problems and it is not the intention of the Government to sponsor similar arrangements in respect of other exports from Hong Kong.

Mr. Leavey

While I know that some comfort was derived from the fact that Sir Frank Lee was invited to go to Hong Kong, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that although in Lancashire it is right to say that there has not been widespread unemployment as the result of the difficulties facing us there, we now face extended short-time working, which for the people concerned is just as disagreeable as unemployment, whatever label the Ministry of Labour may attach to it? Will my right hon. Friend try to take a more positive step in this direction, since it seems logical and certainly desirable that the Government should pursue a line of action which will at least give some hope to the hard-pressed cotton industry?

Sir D. Eccles

I think that the negotiations which Sir Frank Lee is having show that the Government understand the situation and are doing their best to arrive at a voluntary agreement with one of Her Majesty's Colonies.

Mr. Peyton

My right hon. Friend will be aware of the difficult and unhappy time that the glove industry has been having over six years as a result of this steadily and rapidly mounting current of imports from Hong Kong, which is made possible by an almost inexhaustible supply of refugee labour. Is he aware how great the disappointment will be that now that he has decided to investigate and explore the possibilities of doing something for the cotton industry, he has not considered it possible to extend that action to cover the glove industry, which is a small craft industry and has been very hard pressed by this problem? I hope that he will look at it again.

Sir D. Eccles

I am aware of the difficulties of the glove industry, because it has factories in my own constituency. The facts are that the imports from Hong Kong were less last year than the year before and we have not thought it right to extend this kind of arrangement to made-up goods.

Mr. H. Wilson

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that Sir Frank Lee will have all the good wishes of this side of the House, as well as those of his own side, in these discussions and that I am not speaking only for Lancashire Members in saying that? Is he further aware that some entirely informal discussions held in Hong Kong recently by my hon. Friend the Member for Farnworth (Mr. Thornton) and myself, arranged by the Chamber of Commerce there, suggested that there was a hopeful possibility of an agreement that would be fair to this country and would also meet the serious and legitimate case of Hong Kong itself?

Sir D. Eccles

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said and, like him, I hope that these negotiations will succeed.

Mr. Peyton

On a point of order. In view of the importance of this matter, I must give notice that I shall raise it on the Adjournment.