§ 64 and 65. Mr. Attewellasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the estimated numbers of pairs of ladies' shoes to be imported this year from France, 175W French Morocco, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia; and the estimated value of the imports on the British market;
(2) what consultations took place between his Department and the boot and shoe industry on the subject of imports of ladies' shoes from the following countries: France, French Morocco, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia; and if he is satisfied that the home industry is unable to produce the amount of pairs to be imported.
§ Mr. BelcherIt has been decided to licence imports of women's shoes during 1947 from a number of countries to a total value of £800,000. The estimated number of pairs of shoes will be between 350,000 and 450,000. No specific consultation with the boot and shoe industry has taken place about these imports, which represent rather less than 1 per cent. of the production of women's shoes in this country. The imports from France, French Morocco and Czechoslovakia are in accordance with the policy regarding imports from countries whose economies have been disrupted by the war, described in the statement circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 21st October last. Any imports taken from Switzerland represent a resumption to some degree of our prewar trade with that country.