asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received the report of the visit to the United States of America of a productivity team on men's ready made clothing recommending that summer weight suits for men from rayon and rayon mixtures should be produced in this country; and whether he will suggest to British manufacturers that such garments should be produced in order to expand the export trade.

We have received a copy of the report published by the Anglo-American Council on Productivity to which my hon. Friend refers. Development work on worsted/rayon blend cloths has been proceeding for some time in this country, and such cloths have recently been added to the utility cloth schedules with a view to introducing garments made from these cloths in the utility clothing range. We feel sure that manufacturers will study this Report and will not be slow to follow up opportunities to expand exports.