§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give figures of the production of buttons for each quarter of 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMComplete figures of the production of buttons are not available. Particulars furnished by the British Button Manufacturers' Association that relate to the output of a substantial part of the trade in 1927, 1928, 1929 and the first half of 1930, show that there was an increase in the number of buttons made in 1928 compared with 1927 of about 6 per cent. and that in 1929 the increase relative to 1927 was about 20 per cent. Particulars in respect of the1168W first half of 1930 show some reduction on those for the corresponding period of 1929. It is not known how far the kinds of buttons made were similar throughout these periods, nor are separate particulars given for the descriptions of buttons liable to duty.