§ Sir P. DAWSONasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the number of blind persons now deriving a livelihood from the brush industry and to the fact that this industry is suffering from acute foreign competition; and whether, in the interests of these workpeople, he will reconsider his decision relating to the safeguarding of this industry;
(2) whether he has received a communication, dated 13th January, 1926, from the British Brush Manufacturers' Association, setting forth the condition of the brush industry under the existing intensity of foreign competition; whether his attention has been called to the quantity of brushes now being imported into this country, and which are being produced in foreign countries where lower scales of wages and longer hours of labour prevail; whether he is aware that there is danger of complete destruction of the brush industry in a short time 1455W consequent upon such competition; and if he will examine again the claims of this industry to receive the benefit of the safeguarding policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI have received the communication referred to by my hon. Friend. The Committee reported only three months ago, after very thorough enquiry, that the brush industry did not fulfil the conditions necessary to justify a duty under the safeguarding of industries procedure.