§ Sir W. Smilesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that many valuable orders from the U.S.A. are being refused by United Kingdom weavers and merchants owing to the lack of cotton yarn; that 16,122,000 lb. of cotton yarn were exported to foreign countries in the 10 months ended October; and, as his policy is to export fully-manufactured goods, if he will now grant a larger allocation of cotton yarn to the home manufacturers.
§ Mr. MarquandThe present world demand for cotton goods as a whole from the United Kingdom is considerably in excess of our resources, and it is inevitable that many orders have to be refused because of shortage of cotton yarn. Our exports of cotton yarn during the first 10 months of this year, which amount to less than 3 per cent, of total production, went almost wholly to Dominions and Empire territories dependent on us for supplies. The arrangements for the distribution of available yarn supplies are constantly under review and the hon. Member's last point is always kept in mind.