§ 32. Dr. Stuttafordasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the latest available figures for the amount of footwear imported from the undeveloped countries in no way hazards the footwear industry in Norwich.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe trend of imports from all sources is one of a number of factors to be considered. I was glad to see the recent optimistic report by the footwear industry in Norwich on its willingness and ability to meet the challenge of overseas competition.
§ Dr. StuttafordWould my right hon. Friend agree that it is quite a challenge when the number of shoes imported from UNCTAD countries over the last year has gone up by 100 per cent.—they have doubled in one year? Is he aware that Norwich, whether willing to meet the challenge or not, is very concerned that South American countries are exporting to us good-quality leather shoes at the same time as they have a preference from us and yet are charging us 112 per cent. more than they did a year ago for leather?
§ Mr. ChatawayI am aware of the difficulties but this industry is in no doubt about the scale of opportunities that it has in Europe.
§ Mr. HefferIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that some companies are actually importing from underdeveloped areas parts of boots and shoes—uppers and so on—which are being made up in this country and are then sold to the consumer as if they were products made in this country, and that these facts are unknown to the people who buy them? Is it not time that marks of origin were clearly put on the boots and shoes which people buy?
§ Mr. ChatawayIf there is any case of fraudulent marketing I will look into the matter very carefully, but I think one should have in perspective the scale of imports from the developing countries. They went up from 14.5 million to 15.5 million in 1972 and that is against a total import figure of 62.5 million over the same period.