§ Mr. JOHN DENNISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that by an agreement recently entered into with Japan imports of brushes from that country are permitted to the full extent of its 1916exports, and that those imports for 1916 were 1,591,561 dozens, as compared with 289,239 dozens in 1913; whether home manufacturers are in a position to supply the whole of home requirements; whether Japanese labour costs 75 per cent. less than the wages paid to those engaged in the brush trade in this country; and whether any reason exists for thus depriving the British workman of work in his own trade in the manufacture of goods for his own countrymen?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to similar questions by the hon. Member for Watford, and the hon. and gallant Member for the Epping Division of Essex, on 2nd June, of which I am sending him a copy.