§ 40. Mr. G. Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now prepared to give special assistance to the enamel holloware industry to compete with the Hong Kong market.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir: the value of imports of enamel holloware from Hong Kong was less than £1,000 in the last three years taken together.
§ Mr. ThomasSurely the Minister is aware that that is a most misleading Answer, that the damage to this industry is not caused by imports here but by the fact that the Hong Kong industry has taken our markets in Africa; and that the whole basis of the trade is being undermined by much cheaper products? What does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do to help the industry?
§ Sir D. EcclesThe hon. Gentleman is quite right in saying that trade is declining because apparently consumers now prefer plastic or glass or aluminium holloware—
§ Mr. G. ThomasAbroad.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, in the home market, too. It is also true that the Hong Kong industry, the plastic holloware industry, has come into the overseas market. I cannot help to regain an overseas market which we have lost.