§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the partial cessation of upper-leather production in the United Kingdom caused by the importation 1988W of finished upper-leathers from the Continent at prices which in many cases, on account of the exchange, are below the cost of the raw materials in this country; and what steps he proposes to take in order that trained labour and factory plants available in this country may resume employment?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEMy attention has been drawn to the imports of upper-leather from the Continent, and I understand that some of this leather has been offered at low prices, but the volume of such imports is considerably smaller than in pre-War years, and I doubt whether they are, to any great extent, responsible for the unsatisfactory state of employment in the leather trade of this country. The situation is, however, being carefully watched.