asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered an application for the grant of an import licence in respect of lamp-making machinery to the value of £18,000, or thereabouts; and, in view of the fact that such machinery can be obtained in this country, will he refuse to grant such licence.

An import licence for special lamp-making machinery, of the value stated by the hon. and gallant Member, has been granted because the applicant could not secure machinery of the most up-to-date design from domestic sources.