§ 6. Mr. Fisherasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is Government policy to allow imports of cotton fabrics from abroad to supply 60 per cent. of home requirements.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonAbout 35 per cent. of home consumption of cotton cloth is at present met by imports. It is not the Government's policy to prescribe what proportion of home requirements should be met from imports.
§ Mr. FisherCan my hon. Friend say whether it is true that the United States percentage of foreign imports on sale there is, I understand, 5 or 6 per cent., as reported in the Press, and, in Europe, about 10 per cent.? Some reports even indicate that ours is about 60 per cent. as opposed to 35 per cent. If that is so, is such a wide discrepancy fair to the cotton industry in this country? If this trend continues, will there be a textile industry left in Britain in a few years' time?
§ Mr. MacphersonFirst. I think that the higher assessment ignores the amount of Lancashire cloth exported and the amount of grey cloth imported for processing and re-exporting. Secondly, I cannot answer for the United States Government, but I would confirm that their level of imports is very much lower than ours. However, they have no Commonwealth responsibilities comparable with ours
§ Mr. HaleIs not the hon. Gentleman's Question indicative of the oft-repeated fact that the industry is left in a state of complete uncertainty about Government policy? No one seems to be able to obtain any information about Government policy on cotton fabric importation. Will the hon. Gentleman look into the matter again and make a statement as soon as possible?
§ Mr. MacphersonI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave last week to a supplementary question asked by the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman) when I tried to make the present position as clear as I could.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanDoes the hon. Gentleman agree with the Cotton Board's figures about the importation of cotton goods and their increase? Is he aware that in 1953 we imported 36 million sq. yds. for retention in the home market. that by 1959 this figure was 371 million sq. yds. and that in 1961 it was 524 million sq. yds.? When the Government consider their responsibilities to the Commonwealth, will they remember that Lancashire is also part of the Commonwealth?
§ Mr. MacphersonWe shall certainly remember that Lancashire is part of the 213 Commonwealth, and that is why I gave the hon. Gentleman the assurance which I give him last week.
§ 7. Mr. Fisherasked the President of the Board of Trade whether cotton fabric made abroad can, under his Regulations, be legitimately described as "Made in England" in United Kingdom shops.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonImported cotton piece goods are subject to a Marking Order under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. The Order prescribes that such goods must be marked with an Indication of origin at the time of importation and sale. Marking Orders do not, however, extend to goods which have undergone in the United Kingdom any process resulting in a substantial change in the goods. It is for the courts to decide whether such a change has taken place.
§ Mr. FisherI am only a layman in these matters, but surely these goods are made either in England or abroad. Why should processes such as printing and dyeing be the decisive factor? Why should a machine assembled here from parts made abroad be ineligible for a "Made in England" tag whereas fabrics sewn on that machine can be described as "Made in England" although produced in Japan?
§ Mr. MacphersonThese are questions of general definition. I have stated the position as laid down in the Merchandise Marks Act. I shall certainly consider what my hon. Friend said.