§ 98. Mr. Orbachasked the President of the Board of Trade how much men's and women's underwear is being exported; and whether, in view of the approach of winter, he will limit these exports in order to retain as much as possible for the public at home.
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§ Mr. MarquandI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Clitheroe (Mr. Randall) on 21st November on the limitation of underwear exports for the benefit of the home market. The effect of the restriction on applications for export licences for utility underwear which was imposed on 14th July has been to reduce licences for men's and women's underwear from a rate of approximately 210,000 dozen per month to about 35,000 dozen a month. A further restriction on the approval of export licences for non-utility underwear means that practically all production since July, amounting to some 700,000 dozen per month, will be coming on to the home market. The actual exports of underwear which are still running at the rate of 240,000 dozen a month represent commitments on licences previously granted and are coming almost entirely out of pre-July production.