§ Mr. JOELasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, to afford openings for employment, especially in the distressed areas, the Government will appoint a small expert committee to investigate what wholly, or mainly, manufactured goods now imported into this country could profitably be produced here, and to make recommendations in view of such findings as to what assistance could usefully be given by the Government to that end?
§ Dr. BURGINThe question whether certain kinds of goods could be manufactured profitably either in the special areas or elsewhere must be decided in relation to the circumstances of each particular case by the manufacturers concerned, and I do not think that the appointment of a small expert committee as suggested by my hon. Friend is likely to be of assistance in this matter. Any question of protection against foreign imports is a matter, in the first instance, for the Import Duties Advisory Committee.
Description. Unit of Quantity. 1913. 1922. 1934. Cotton piece goods Mill, Linear yds. 573 276 17 Woollen and worsted tissues Thous. Sq. yds. 7,415 (b) 7,928 3,628 Piece goods of silk mixed with other materials. Thous. Sq. yds. 194 (b) 113 1 Linen piece goods Thous. Sq. yds. 590 (b) 315 4,697 (a) The figures for 1934 also exclude exports consigned to Manchuria. (b) Linear yards. NOTE.—The quantity of artificial silk piece goods exported was not recorded before 1925.