§ Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will explain why grey waste yarn, including dyed waste yarn, which is not needed for making explosives, is allowed to (inter the United Kingdom from India without licence; why general licences are not obtainable through the Board of Trade Import Department for yarns spun in India, including dyed yarns, for which freight has been obtainable, home manufacturers not producing yarns identical with the Indian 2085W yarns; and why Indian cotton spinners, who have to purchase raw cotton in anticipation, are compelled to refuse fresh orders, and so to curtail their production, which result is occasioned by the existence of a prohibition in the United Kingdom which does not exist in India?
Mr. HARCOURTWaste yarns are not exempt from the prohibition of the importation of cotton yarns and they cannot be imported without licence. After careful consideration it has not been found possible to exempt Indian goods from the prohibition, but endeavours will be made to avoid hardship in the enforcement of the restrictions by granting licences to import goods produced in India under contracts entered into before the date of the prohibition, so far as this can be done without defeating the object of the prohibition.