§ 1. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the continuing and increasing damage that is being done to Scottish knitwear factories by imports from Hong Kong; and what steps he has taken and plans to take to protect this Scottish industry.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Alan Green)My right hon. Friend is aware that imports from Hong Kong are increasing, but production of knitted goods in Scotland as a whole has been well maintained.
§ Mr. HughesHas the Minister nothing practical to suggest to ameliorate this terrible position which is a very serious blow to an established industry in Aberdeen, and which, if combined with the lack of contracts in the shipbuilding yards, presents the people of Aberdeen with a very black Christmas? Have the Government nothing constructive to suggest having regard to the promises made by Ministers to the people of Aberdeen?
§ Mr. GreenSeventy-four thousand pounds was offered to projects in Aberdeen under the Local Employment Act between April, 1960, and October, 1962. 180 There are now nearly 300 jobs in prospect in new building and other developments in the area. Perhaps the hon. and learned Gentleman would like to know—and I sympathise with him about this—that imports from Hong Kong equalled 2 per cent. of the British production in 1961 and that during the first half of 1962 imports from Hong Kong were about 3 per cent. of British production. British production itself has increased by about 2½ per cent.