§ Mr. Watsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the large increase in the quantity of silk piece goods imported into this country from Japan during the first four months of this year as compared with the corresponding period in 1937; and whether he will take effective steps to prevent the unfair competition British manufacturers have to meet from the Far East?
§ Mr. CrossThe quantity of silk piece goods imported into this country from Japan during the first four months of the current year only exceeded the quantity imported during the corresponding period of 1937 by about 1 per cent. It was less than the quantity imported during the corresponding period of 1936. The question of foreign competition in silk tissues is under consideration but I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.