HC Deb 21 February 1956 vol 549 cc24-5W
97. Mr. Remnant

asked the President of the Board of Trade to state the comparative figures for United Kingdom consumption of home-produced and imported matches, respectively, for 1953, 1954, and 1955; and what restrictions there are on the import of matches.

Mr. Low

Sales of home-produced matches were 13.3 million "short standards" in 1953, 12.5 million in 1954 and 12.2 million in 1955. Retained imports in these years were 4.8 million, 5.4 million and 5.9 million short standards respectively. A short standard contains 7,200 matches. There is no restriction on the import of matches except from the dollar area and from Russia, Eastern European countries, Argentina and Japan.