§ Mr. PICKERINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that certain of the woollen yarns that are subject to duty are essential raw material for the Leicester knitting and other hosiery industries and are not made in this country, and that there was no abnormal import of yarns up to the end of October; and whether he will consider exempting from duty a limited quota 2067W of such yarns, in older to enable hosiery manufacturers to fulfil contracts made before the passing of the Order?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe statement of the imports of commodities included in the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties), No. 2 Order, gives the figures for woollen and worsted yarns, and they show a considerable increase in October. I have no power under the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act to do as my hon. Friend suggests, but I will not lose sight of the considerations which he has put forward.
§ Mr. PICKERINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a certain quality of paper (which is the raw material of the printing and other industries), which previously cost 19s. per cwt. both British and foreign made, has, since the operation of the Abnormal Importations (Customs Duties) Act, increased in price to 27s. per cwt. for the British-made article; and whether, in consequence of this increase in price, he will consider reducing the duty on the foreign imports?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIf my hon. Friend will be good enough to send me the particulars in his possession, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. BURNETTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as crepe paper is not manufactured in this country, and as it constitutes the raw material for certain cheaper forms of toilet paper, he will consider its exemption from the 50 per cent. duty under the Abnormal Importations (No. 1) Order?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I am informed that creped paper is produced in this country.