HC Deb 04 July 1939 vol 349 cc1133-4W
Mr. Kirkwood

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the total amount of Japanese merchandise imported into this country for the first six months of this year; and whether he will give the House the information in his possession as to the conditions under which this merchandise is produced, and the hours of work and the wages of the workers in the Japanese factories?

Mr. Stanley

The aggregate value of merchandise imported into this country from Japan during the first six months of this year is not yet available, but will be published in the monthly trade accounts for July. During the first quarter, these imports were valued at £2,419,000. As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to an article on wages and working hours of industrial workers in Japan which appeared in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for May last. I am informed that the average daily earnings of industrial workers in Japan are at present somewhat higher than the figures quoted in that article.