Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large quantities of German china are being imported into Great Britain, such china not having the country of origin indelibly marked under the glaze; that there is a great slump of trade in the Staffordshire districts and an increasing amount of unemployment; and whether he will give a promise that early next Session, as hoped in the letter of 22nd October to the National Council of the pottery industry, he will introduce a Measure, based on the recommendations of the Merchandise Marks Committee, so that the British public may be protected from German china being sold as of British manufacture?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe official trade statistics do not suggest any large importation of porcelain, china, and earthenware from Germany, but I am aware of the unsatisfactory state of employment in the pottery trade of this country. As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, there is no provision of existing law under which all imported china could be required to be marked with an indication of its country of origin, but I hope to introduce amending legislation early next Session.