asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of plain pottery imported during 1947; to what extent is plain pottery purchased in or from North Staffs, and later decorated by pigments, cellulose paints and other poisons; and what action has been or will be taken to prevent this dangerous practice.

The value of retained imports of plain domestic pottery during the first 10 months of this year was £194,000. I do not know precisely how much plain pottery is purchased from North Staffordshire or elsewhere for later decoration, but 12 concerns are specifically licensed to do this work for export. Fourteen private persons have licences on hardship grounds to decorate pottery for the home market. I have had no corn-plaints about the possible danger to health caused by the use of ware decorated with unfired colours, but I will arrange for an immediate investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of pottery exported and the amount allowed for the home market during 1947; what complaints he has received about the shortage in this country; and what action does he intend to take to bring about a large increase in the output of pottery, sanitary requirements, electrical insulators, etc.

During the first nine months of this year sales for export were valued at £7,058,186 and sales for the home market, excluding Government orders, at £6,137,100. I receive many complaints about the shortage of supplies at home and am doing all I can to help manufacturers to increase production but in view of the great and growing importance of pottery exports I cannot, I regret, promise any early easing of the supply position at home. I am assured that my right hon. Friends the Ministers of Supply and Works are doing all they can to encourage the production of electrical porcelain and sanitary ware respectively.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that this industry is making a substantial contribution towards our economic recovery, and that it could make a much greater? If so, will he take energetic steps to set machinery in motion that would bring about an enormous increase in production?

I certainly agree that this industry is making a great contribution both to the export drive and to supplies for the civilian market, and anything I can do to help the industry to do more, I shall be glad to do.

Will my right hon. Friend then consider the advisability of calling an early conference consisting of representatives of all interests in order that they may pool their ideas, with a view to carrying out the policy he has agreed upon?

I have already been making arrangements to meet both sides of the industry as early as I can in the New Year.

Has the Minister any news about the setting up of the development council about which we were promised some information before the end of the year?

There is a Question down on the Order Paper later this afternoon about the development council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been reached with renters and exhibitors for the distribution of short British documentary films, either produced commercially or sponsored by the Central Office of Information.

All British short documentary films can benefit by the quota provisions of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1938. For one ten-minute film every month there is also, I understand, a special arrangement between the exhibitors and the Central Office of Information which assures these films of distribution to a substantial majority of the cinemas.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the present position is that important documentary films—as, for example, the recent C.O.I. film "The World is Rich"—are unable to obtain exhibition on any of the main cinema circuits, and in view of the shortage of British films to fill cinema time, will he exercise his influence with the distributors to get this state of affairs remedied?

I have been going specially into the question of the film mentioned by my hon. Friend only this week, and I can tell him that I am discussing this question, and other similar matters, with the exhibitors early in the New Year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the general financial implications for the British film industry involved in the statement issued on 11th December by the General Cinemas Finance Corporation, a copy of which has been sent to him, and if, in view of the fact that the Secretary of this Corporation resigned just prior to the publication of this statement, he will appoint a Commission of inquiry to examine the best methods of protecting the future of the British film industry.

My hon. Friend no doubt refers to the statement issued by Odeon Theatres Ltd., which is to be considered tomorrow by the shareholders. Until this has been done, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to offer any comment. On the question of protecting the future of the British film industry, I hope it may be possible for me to deal with this matter at the time of the Second Reading of the Cinematograph Films Bill.

In view of the extraordinary revelations which were contained in this statement, of the widespread concern aroused by this matter, and of the fact that the meeting of shareholders tomorrow is a foregone conclusion in view of Mr. Rank's holdings, will my right hon. Friend consider the necessity of protecting the interests of the British film industry by having a special inquiry, apart from the action he is projecting under the new Films Bill?

I do not think any action of any kind is called for until after the shareholders' meeting.

Does not my right hon. Friend think that on the evidence already before him there is a case for an investigation under the Companies Act of 1947?

The powers under the Companies Act as now operative would only enable me to initiate an inquiry on the application of not less than 200 shareholders who could show good reason for requiring an investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which trade associations were consulted with regard to the question of representation on the Raw Cotton Commission.

The members of the Raw Cotton Commission have been selected for their personal qualifications without reference to trade associations.

In view of the fact that the Raw Cotton Commission has worked with the cotton industry, would it not have been beneficial to have had such consultation with the various trade associations concerned?

I do not think that would have added anything to the information we had already from the gentlemen who were selected. In fact, most, if not all, so far appointed, apart from the full-time members, have been serving in an advisory capacity, and the cotton industry has been working with them now for some years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons and undertakings were adjudicated bankrupt between January, 1919, and August, 1939; what was the average number yearly; and how many from July, 1945, to November, 1947.

Including bankruptcy orders and deeds of arrangements, the figures are 113,554, representing an average of 5,494 a year for the period January, 1919, to August, 1939. For the period July, 1945, to November, 1947, the total number was 136.

Does not the Minister agree that these figures in themselves are a substantial repudiation of the cries of "wolf, wolf," that we hear from certain quarters?

I think these figures speak for themselves.

Has any analysis been carried out to ascertain how many were spivs, drones, eels and butterflies, respectively?

No, Sir, I think it would take too many civil servants to analyse the figures of the spivs, drones, etc., who have become bankrupt.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many farmers or farming undertakings were adjudicated bankrupt between January, 1919, and August, 1939; and how many between July, 1945, and November, 1947.

Including bankruptcy orders and deeds of arrangement the figures are: for January, 1919, to August, 1939, 7,456; and for the period from July, 1945, to November, 1947, 76.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that last time we had a Socialist Government, the number of agricultural bankruptcies increased by 30 per cent.? Is he taking steps to see that the position does not again deteriorate?

The Question relates to the dates set out on the Order Paper and I am not aware—though I could answer the Question if it were put down—that bankruptcies came to an end in 1931.

Does not the fact that the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) has just quoted illustrate the difference between a majority Socialist Government and a minority Socialist Government?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in the City of Aberdeen there is a shortage of outsize garments, particularly nether garments, for men and boys over six feet in height; and will he take steps to increase the supply and the size, especially in view of the letter which has been sent to him from the mother of a boy 6 feet 2 inches tall, who though offered employment, cannot go to work until he can obtain long trousers.

I am not aware that the shortage of outsize men's garments is more severe in Aberdeen than elsewhere, but I am having special steps taken to deal with the case to which my hon. and learned Friend refers.

Does the Minister realise that the Question refers not only to nether garments, but to outsize garments of all kinds?

Yes, Sir, so did my answer.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind the equalitarian principles of the Socialist creed in considering this matter, and does he realise that many people in Scotland have taken to wearing the kilt because of the shortage of nether garments?

I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that even prewar it was not always easy to get ready-made suits for very tall boys, whether in Aberdeen or anywhere else.

Would the Minister pay particular attention to ladies' size 9 shoes?

What is the difference between nether garments and trousers in Aberdeen?

Kilts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the contribution of the pottery factory of the English Co-operative Wholesale Society to the total export of pottery in the first nine months of this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what contribution to the export trade in footwear and soap in the first nine months of this year was made by the footwear and soap factories of the English and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Societies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the total manufacturing output of the English and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Societies is to be allocated to assist in reaching export targets.

Export targets are normally set for industries rather than for individual firms or groups of firms. For this reason no specific export target has been allotted to the English and Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Societies, although, like other industrial undertakings, they are expected to play their full part in the attainment of the export targets for those branches of industry in which they are engaged. As regards the Co-operative Wholesale Society's exports of footwear, soap and pottery, it would not be proper for me to disclose the export performance of any individual undertaking.

May I ask the President of the Board of Trade to assure the House that every care will be taken to allay any possible suspicion that the co-operative societies will receive any biased treatment in this respect, and can he assure the House that if the co-operative societies are unable to attain such export targets as are set, they will, in accordance with the practice for other industries and businesses, be cut short of coal in consequence?

There is no ground for any public suspicion of any kind on this subject. I can certainly say that the Co-operative Wholesale Society's factories have been treated in exactly the same way as other factories in the same industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why imported unsawn timber is still being taken by lorry from Liverpool Docks to isolated stone quarries in the Whitworth Valley, 40 miles away, for temporary storage, involving a waste of labour and petrol justified only in time of war.

This timber consists of heavy logs mainly of West African mahogany and I am informed that no suitable storage with the necessary mechanical handling facilities is available nearer the docks. In the main the logs are conveyed as return loads by transport carrying goods to the docks.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the path to these quarries leads up a mountain road which is deep in mud in winter, and that the waste of tyres, lorries, petrol, etc., must be tremendous? Can he give any idea of the cost, and will he give urgent reconsideration to this matter?

I agree that the situation is not satisfactory, but I do not know how soon it will be before we can make other arrangements, because that depends on the rate of arrival of these logs in the future, and also on the extent to which we are successful in finding other accommodation.

Would my right hon. Friend look into the question of effecting economies in this matter by the import of sawn and dry timbers?

asked the President of the Board of Trade approximately the number of single shops opened-up in England and Wales since the end of the war; how many of these have failed; how the present total number of these shops compares with the 1938 figure; and the aggregate number who are engaged in shop-keeping and assistance.

Control over the opening of new shops is now confined to the food trades. Information about the total number of shops opened since the end of the war and the number of these which have failed is not, therefore, available, but from 16th August, 1945, to 15th October, 1947, 37,164 licences were issued in England and Wales to sell food by retail, and 11,822 licences were revoked, giving a net increase of 25,342. These figures include a number of licence holders not operating from shop premises. Particulars of the total number of shops operating in England and Wales, and of the number of persons engaged in shopkeeping, will not be known until the results of the first National Census of Distribution, which is planned for 1950, are available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what application has been made by Messrs. Little-woods for a coupon float to enable them to open the store in Deansgate, Bolton, now being converted for this purpose; and whether it is his intention to make an allocation of coupons.

No application of that kind has been made by Messrs. Little-woods.

In view of the position that may arise if this retail store were allowed to open, which would have the effect of diverting essential labour from the cotton mills, will my right hon. Friend assure the House, having regard to the absence of consumer need in the area, that he will refuse the application for a coupon float if the application should be made?

We normally only give a coupon float if we are sure that the firm is re-opening after having been closed during the war, or where consumer need is established. It is certain that neither of those conditions has been fulfilled in this case. As to the danger that the proposal to open the shop would draw female labour from the cotton mills, my hon. Friend is having discussions with the firm concerned to see that that does not occur.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for coupon floats have been made to his Regional Office by applicants in Bolton during the last 12 months; and how many have been refused.

Sixty applications, of which 55 were for retail trade, one for making-up and four for wholesale, for coupon floats, have been made during the year to the Board of Trade regional office in Manchester by applicants in Bolton. Of these applications 13 have been granted, 14 refused, 29 have not been followed up by the applicants, and four are still pending.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that although a sum of money was granted by the Bank of England to Mr. C. Hopkinson of The Court House, East Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire, for the purchase of rare books in Europe for export to the United States of America, a delay of eight weeks occurred before his Department issued the necessary import licence; and whether in the interests of the export drive and our need of dollars he will give an assurance that for such cases in the future the issue of import licences will be expedited.

Following the revocation of the open general licence for imports of non-fiction books on 12th September last, the volume of applications for individual licences has been very heavy. Delay in dealing with these applications is inevitable until the heavy accumulation of arrears has been overtaken. Steps are being taken to reduce the delay.

Is it really necessary, in spite of the volume of applications, for letters not to be answered for weeks or even acknowledged? Is it not of some importance that a matter, of this kind, which produces dollars for this country, should be expedited, and assisted?

As I have said, steps have been taken to put this right.

Is it not also undesirable that Europe's rare books should go to America, and find a place in such an uncultured and uncouth part of the world?

will the right hon. Gentleman consider consulting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about what urgent steps can be taken to preserve this country as the central market for books and pictures?

Yes, we will be very glad to do anything we can.

On a point of Order. May I ask for your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, whether it is in Order to describe a friendly State like America as "an uncultured and uncouth part of the world?"

I cannot say that I think it is out of Order; it is merely a matter of taste.

In case there is any misunderstanding about the phrase I have used, and with the intention of making sure that there is no real offence meant towards the United States of America, with whom we are in friendly relations, I withdraw the use of the words "uncultured and uncouth," lest a wrong meaning should be put upon them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what facilities are now being granted by his Department for the supply of paper for the publishing of new magazines started since 1945, other than those which are permitted a maximum of 8 cwt. per month.

Under the Control of Paper, No. 70 Order, no new periodical or newspaper may be published if it uses more than 8 cwt. of paper in four months, except under licence. Licences are only granted in very exceptional cases, of which there have been six in the last 12 months.

Will my right hon. Friend state what these six are? Can he reconcile the information he has just given with the advertisement in the Press of the magazine "Future," started, I understand, since 1945, which is advertising with a view to obtaining subscribers? Is a magazine justified in advertising for new subscribers, when it has an allocation of paper of only 8 cwt. a month?

I would like to have notice of the second part of that supplementary question. The six magazines are, respectively, "Instructional Screen," "Christian Renewal," "Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons," "International Union of Mineworkers Bulletin," "Coal," and "Voice of the Overseas Chinese."

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the magazine "Future" is printed in Czechoslovakia, imported into this country, and re-exported, largely for dollars?

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that paper might be saved by amalgamating these publications?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the increased stocks of women's outerwear held by retailers, he will consider down-pointing such garments for a limited period.

No, Sir. I do not regard the stocks of women's outerwear held by retailers as abnormally large, and all available stocks of clothing will be required to meet the ration during the coming months when the demands of the export programme will make themselves increasingly felt.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that last week, in answer to a Question of mine, the Parliamentary Secretary said that the stocks in the hands of retailers were today 44 per cent. above those of a year ago? Does he consider those stocks abnormal? Is he further aware that fashions are changing and retailers may have considerable difficulty in disposing of these stocks?

It is true that the stocks of women's wear, as compared with men's wear, have got a bit out of balance. But, as has already been stated, the production of men's wear is increasing, and of women's wear decreasing, which will help to redress the balance.

Will my right hon. Friend now consider answering the letter I wrote to him a little while ago on the same subject, without my putting a Question on the Order Paper?

Yes, Sir.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why, when an advance in wages is granted by the appropriate wages council or other negotiating body, in certain industries, which are subject to control by the Raw Materials Department of the Board of Trade, only 80 per cent. of this wages increase is allowed in any adjustment in selling price; and if he is satisfied that this is in the best interests of production.

I am always anxious to keep prices generally as low as possible. Controlled prices are normally considered on the basis of ascertained costs of production. When an application is made for an increase in such prices immediately after a wage increase, it cannot be assumed that the net increase in costs will be equivalent to the amount of the wage increase. It is, therefore, the normal practice of the Board of Trade not to allow the full amount of the wage increase, but to leave a margin which can be covered in the prices at a later stage when actual costs of production over a reasonable period of working has been ascertained. Ordinarily 20 per cent, is considered to be a fair margin unless special circumstances exist. I am satisfied that this method with the provision for an ex post facto review, is the most likely to serve the best interests of all concerned, including consumers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while he may be satisfied, the members of the Chambers of Commerce which are concerned with the operation of these regulations are by no means satisfied, and think it extremely inadequate that they should have to pay wage advances immediately and have to wait for a year for a review of their figures?

We have to think of the consumers as well as the Chambers of Commerce.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give further information about the removal of the subsidies from utility cotton and wool cloth.

Yes, Sir. I have now arranged for the subsidy on utility cotton apparel cloths and handkerchief cloths to be discontinued on all cloth invoiced from the weavers to the converters after 31st December. The detailed arrangements for dealing with the subsidy on utility wool cloth are still being worked out and there will be no change in the existing arrangements before the end of February, 1948.

Will my right hon. Friend say what measures he has in mind to restore the stability of prices which the removal of the subsidies will endanger?

We are discussing the prices with the trades concerned. It will be our intention to see that the increase in prices resulting from the removal of the subsidies is kept as small as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what development councils have been appointed under the Industrial Organisation Act; when it is expected that others will be set up; and if he will make a statement.

No development councils have yet been appointed. Good progress has however been made towards the establishment of a council for the cotton industry, and I hope to publish during the Recess a White Paper containing my proposals. Discussions are proceeding with several other industries, and though they have not hitherto gone as fast or as far as I should have liked, I intend to press them forward, and hope to be able to lay proposals before the House early in the New Year.

Will the Minister assure the House that the development council for the pottery industry will not be reduced in its powers from being an executive body to one of an advisory nature?

I would certainly say, in regard to a number of development councils, that in case there is any misunderstanding on this point we intend to proceed with development councils in the full form in which they were envisaged when Parliament passed the Act.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that perhaps his difficulties in setting up these councils are due to the decision not to accept representatives from the various trade associations—that the Ministry want to select individuals themselves?

I do not think that the difficulties have anything to do with it.