§ Sir G. JONESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the importation of men's clothing from Poland during the last six months; the approximate quantities thereof compared with last year; if such importations are subsidised by the Polish Government; and approximately the comparative wages and conditions of labour in Poland and in this country for such work?
Sir H. YOUNGInformation as to the quantity of men's clothing imported from Poland is not available, but the total declared value of men's and boys' outer garments (suits, coats, vests and trousers, excluding overcoats and hosiery) imported into the United Kingdom and registered as consigned from Poland, including Dantzig, during the first eight months of 1931 was £75,702 as compared with a total of £9,406 during the whole of the year 1930. Exporters of clothing from Poland receive a non-transferable certificate, valued at 325 zloty per 100 kilograms or 8.1 pence per pound weight at par of exchange, which is available for payment of customs duties on articles of any kind imported by them. The intention of this system is stated to be to reimburse to the manufacturer the duties payable on his raw material. As regards the last part of the question, minimum rates of wages are in operation for the tailoring trade in this country under the Trade Boards Acts, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour that there is no sufficient information as to conditions in Poland to enable the desired comparison to be made.