§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade which countries subsidise in any way the manufacture or export of cotton goods; by what method this is done; and to what extent?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMI regret that no complete information is available, but the following statement summarises a few instances which have been brought to my notice:
Australia: Under the Cotton Industries Bounty Act, 1930, a bounty is paid under certain conditions to cotton spinners on yarn produced wholly from Australian cotton.
Spain: The Spanish Cotton Industry Committee is permitted to pay bonuses 2017W on the export of certain cotton piece goods from Spain. The committee's funds are raised by a tax of 5c. per kg., on all imported raw cotton.
Syria: Under a decree of 1926, a bounty is paid on the export of native manufactured tissues.
Japan: There is a rebate on railway freight rates for cotton goods in car loads for export.
§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to deal with the cotton industry?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe Government's policy is to do everything in its power to encourage and help the different sections of the cotton industry themselves to solve in co-operation the problems with which the industry is faced. The Government continue to hope that the necessary measures will be taken by the industry without recourse being had to legislation.
§ Mr. MALONEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the progress of the reorganisation of the cotton industry?
§ Mr. GRAHAMProposals for the regrouping of productive units in the various sections of the industry are under discussion. My hon. Friend will appreciate that to disclose the nature of these proposals would prejudice the position of the firms concerned and bring the negotiations to a standstill.