§ 42. Mr. Cocksasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large stocks of lace are accumulating in British warehouses owing to the fact that many foreign countries are restricting the importation of such goods; and whether he will consider releasing a proportion of them for the home market.
§ Mr. H. WilsonI am aware that some firms hold stocks of lace that they cannot export through closing of the markets for which they were designed. If alternative markets cannot be found, applications for release to the home market may be considered by the Advisory Panel I have appointed to advise me on frustrated exports. The details were published in the Board of Trade Journal of 10th July.
§ 43. Mr. Cocksasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that lace exports from this country are greatly hampered by import licence restrictions placed on them by many foreign 115W countries; whether he has considered representations on the subject from the Federation of Lace and Embroidery Employers' Associations; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. H. WilsonYes. I have considered representations from the Federation in this matter, and we shall continue to keep in touch with them as and when we see any opportunity in the course of our bilateral negotiations to ask for more generous quotas.