§ Colonel Baldwin-Webbasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that a circular has been issued by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation offering to barter cotton with certain European countries for a range of goods which this country is already in a position to supply to the maximum requirements; and whether he proposes to take any steps thereon;
(2) Whether, in view of the circular issued by the Lancashire Cotton Corporation offering to barter cotton goods for a range of supplies of which this country can already supply full requirements, he will take steps to protect such trades by a quota?
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonI am aware that a circular of the kind to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was issued some months ago, but I have no information that any business of this kind has been done. If imports under any such arrangements were having an adverse effect on the sale of corresponding articles of home production, it would be, of course, open to the United Kingdom interests concerned to make representations to the Import Duties Advisory Committee for an increase of the import duties.