§ Lieut.-Colonel Kingsmillasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that unemployment is rising in those industries in which jute is used as a raw material; and what steps he is taking to increase the import of this article.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI am aware that supplies of jute yarn, cloth and bags to industries using them have had to be curtailed though in most cases this curtailment is relatively small. It is mainly due to the fact that the jute crop in India and Pakistan has been smaller than expected and is insufficient to meet the needs of all consuming countries. I am pursuing with the Governments of the respective countries the question of obtaining further supplies of jute and jute goods for export to the United Kingdom.