§ 87. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that ladies' hats costing £ 34 11s. 3d. are being sold in London displaying feathers of the bird of paradise; and, in view of the cruelty caused, if he will take action to prevent the sale of such feathers.
§ Mr. BelcherNo, Sir, but it my hon. Friend will let me have particulars of the case he has in mind, I will arrange for inquiries to be made. Before the war the importation of the feathers of the bird of paradise was restricted under the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, 1921, and licences were granted only for certain non-commercial purposes. Since the outbreak of war in September, 1939, no import licences for these feathers have been granted.