§ 97. Mr. Johnson Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that over 2 million pencils were imported from Iron Curtain countries during the month of August, many at 5s. a gross, and that British manufacturers have to pay this price for the wood alone; and, in view of the threat to the industry which this represents, what steps he is taking to safeguard its future; and whether he will make a statement.
RodgersImports of pencils from Iron Curtain countries are restricted by quota and during August amounted to half a million. United Kingdom production exceeded 230 million last year. It is always open to an industry to supply evidence to the Board of Trade in support of an application for an anti-dumping duty. The pencil industry has already been told this.