§ Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of imports of optical glasses from Italy and France, respectively, for the year 1951; and the amount for which import licences have been granted up to 31st June, 1952.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftImports of un-worked optical glass from France in 1951 amounted to 3 cwt., valued at £586, and from Italy a very small quantity, valued at £18. Imports of lenses for optical instruments from France in 1951 numbered 9,145, valued at £2,297, and from Italy eight, valued at £337.
During the period 1st January, 1951, to 30th July, 1952, import licences have been issued as follows:
For unworked optical glass:
£ France … … 494 Other Countries … … 400 For lenses of all kinds requiring an import licence:
£ France … … 10,407 Italy … … 27 Other countries … … 19,090 Imports from Western Europe and a number of other countries of spectacle lenses, optical glasses (engravers', watchmakers', etc.), and certain optical instruments may be made without a specific import licence.