HC Deb 20 May 1946 vol 423 cc9-10W
81. Air-Commodore Harvey

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much raw silk in China and Japan is available for export; and what quantities are available for this country.

Mr. Marquand

It is understood that 17 million lb. of raw silk may be available for export from Japan during the next 12 months, of which 6 per cent. would be available to this country, the proportion being based on the percentage of Japanese exports taken by the United Kingdom before the war. The quantity of raw silk available for export from China is very uncertain, but it is thought that possibly 2½ million lb. will be available from this season's crop. Exports of raw silk from China are not subject to any allocation system.