asked the President of the Board of Trade if the levy on manufacturers to the Leather and Footwear Export Corporation is compulsory; and under what authority the levy is made.

Yes. The levy is imposed by the Encouragement of Exports (Leather Footwear and Allied Products) Order, 1940 (S.R.O. 1940, No. 1986), under the authority of powers conferred on the Board of Trade by Regulation 3 of the Defence (Encouragement of Exports) Regulations, 1940 (S.R.O. 1940, No. 1210 as amended by S.R.O. 1940, No. 1966). The validity of these Regulations was extended until 1950 by the Supplies and Services (Transitional Powers) Act, 1945.