Mr. ROBINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will have 2098W inquiries made as to the conditions under which the textile goods imported into this country are manufactured; and, in the event of the inquiry proving that the goods are produced on a lower standard than that prevailing in Britain, if he will introduce legislation prohibiting the import of goods into this country from countries where the standard is lower than that of the textile trades of Britain?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKInferior conditions of employment of labour, whether as respects remuneration or hours of employment, in the production of goods imported into this country, can be one of the grounds for an application in accordance with the Safeguarding of Industries procedure by the home industry producing similar goods. Three sections of the textile industry—lace, worsted and hosiery—have made applications which have been referred to committees, and this particular matter has been considered and reported upon by the committee in each case. I do not think a general inquiry would serve any very useful purpose. I would remind the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government are precluded in most cases from enforcing either prohibitions or discriminatory duties against the products of particular countries, in view of the provisions of commercial treaties which guarantee mutual most-favoured-nation treatment in both matters.