§ Sir C. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in view of the facts that imports of finished cloths have increased in the first quarter of 1966 from 31 million to 43 million square yards and that 64 per cent. of this increase comes from Hong Kong and India, if he will take steps to protect the Lancastrian trade; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he is aware that the imports of grey cotton cloth in the first quarter of 1966 were 156 million square yards as compared with 108 million in the same period for 1965; if he will take steps to curb imports from Hong Kong, India and Pakistan in order to assist the Lancastrian industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DarlingImports of finished cotton cloth and imports of grey cloth in the first quarter of this year were heavily inflated by the arrival of goods shipped before the end of 1965 after I had decided that no carry-over of 1965 quotas into 1966 could be allowed. Imports from India, Hong Kong and Pakistan and many other countries are subject to a total limit under the interim control arrangement now in operation. Final arrangements to cover the period until 1970 will be announced as soon as possible.