§ Mr. DENNIS HERBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the imports of brushes from Japan were more than five times as much in 1916 as in 1913; whether this increase was mainly due to the British brushmakers having been engaged largely on special Government work during the War; whether British brushmakers are able to supply the entire home demand; and whether he will bring these facts to the special notice of the Import Consultative Council, and also supply to that council such information as the Board of Trade has in regard to the low wages paid in. Japan to labour in the brush industry, and in regard to the deterioration in the quality of Japanese brushes as the production has increased?
§ MR.BRIDGEMANI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Deritend Division of Birmingham. I would add that the Imports Consultative Council has now completed its work.