asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of imports entering the United Kingdom under the Token Import Scheme in 1951; and what revision of the scheme is contemplated.

The value of actual imports under the Token Import Scheme in 1951 is not available, but import licences were issued in 1951 to a value of nearly £4.4 million. Some of these licences were not, or were not fully, used. As has already been announced. the Scheme is to continue in 1952 at a reduced level, and only for imports from the United States and Canada. Manufacturers in these countries will be allowed to send to the United Kingdom 30 per cent. by value of their pre-war exports of the commodities concerned, as compared with 40 per cent. in 1951. The Scheme will cover the same commodities as in 1951.

Will my right hon. Friend consider looking at the categories, since many people complain that they are able to buy luxury American goods and are not able to buy food? As there will be a restriction on certain categories of American luxury goods for many years ahead, is it wise to continue token imports?

I think that there is value from the goodwill point of view in trying to maintain some small trade in traditional trades of this character, but I am prepared to look at the list to see whether, under the existing ceiling of expenditure, it should be amended.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what matters are still under consideration by the Monopolies Commission; and by what date it is expected that reports will be received on each of these matters.

I hope to receive the Commission's report on electric cables during April. The report on matches and match-making machinery and the report on insulin are expected to follow during the course of this year. The other subjects before the Commission are nonferrous metals, the printing of fabrics, and imported timber: I cannot at present say when reports of these matters may be expected.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this does seem a very long period for these considerations to go on, particularly when dealing with matters of great urgency, and will he tell House what action he has now decided to take upon the reports already submitted to him?

The question of action on the reports should, of course, be addressed to the production Departments concerned. I am as concerned as the hon. Member about the number of reports that can be got through the Commission in its present form, and it is because of this that some amending legislation has been considered.

Will my right hon. Friend consider referring to the Monopolies Commission the worst monopolies of all—some of the great nationalised industries?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to make a statement as to the proposed increases in the range of utility clothing.

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made about the Utility schemes on 13th March during the debate on the Budget proposals.

In view of the fact that that deplorable statement was made after this Question was put down, will the right hon. Gentleman now undertake to produce in the form of a White Paper, or in some other handy form, the results on prices of the action that he has taken, with some comparable extracts from the Conservative propaganda on the price of clothing at the last Election?

I will endeavour to see if all the information which the hon. Gentleman could wish for on this matter can be made available to him.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that, as the position stands at present, people who can buy suits off the peg have the benefit of the utility range, but people like disabled ex-Service men who have to have suits made to measure have to pay Purchase Tax?

Can the President of the Board of Trade tell me where his responsibility ends and where the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer commences in this matter? Is he aware that a Question which I put to him about the price of outsizes has now been transferred to the Chancellor of the Exchequer? May I have an answer, because this is a very important matter?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the classification into which motor cycles come for the purpose of the recent alterations in the hire purchase regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now amend the Hire Purchase and Credit Sale Agreement Control Order, 1952, to bring motor cycles into the same category as motor cars.

Under the terms of the Order, hire purchase agreements for motor cycles were made subject to the same requirements as those for bicycles. I have reconsidered this classification in the light of further information brought to my notice, and am now proposing to amend the Order so that motor cycles will be made subject to the same requirements as imposed on motor cars. I hope that the Order will be issued shortly. I am grateful to both hon. Members and to other hon. Members, including my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Brigadier Clarke) for having drawn my attention to this matter.

When the right hon. Gentleman is reconsidering this question, will he also consider reducing to some extent the initial payment that is required for motor cycles?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that all Government Departments are exempted from inspection by weights and measures Inspectors under the Weights and Measures Act, 1878; and whether, in view of the unsatisfactory position which this creates, he will introduce legislation to rescind the Section which exempts scales which are the property of a Government Department from inspection.

This exemption arises out of a judicial decision under the 1878 Act. All Government Departments are being asked to consider arrangements for the periodical inspection of their scales by inspectors of weights and measures. We propose to proceed in this way rather than by amending the legislation.

While this represents some progress, does not my right hon. Friend think that it is inadequate, since there is no power under the proposal for weights and measures inspectors to issue a summons against a Government Department for defrauding the public by using false scales?

I appreciate that the answer does not go as far as my hon. Friend desires, but it goes a very substantial way to meet his point.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the fact that importation of canned goods from Denmark has been drastically reduced for the year ending 1952, whether he will reduce the supplies of tinplate to Denmark by 3,000 tons, on account of the grave need of the home-canning industry for the supply of tinplate.

No, Sir. Denmark is a most important supplier of essential foodstuffs and we cannot disregard her essential requirements. Tinplate for canning milk will be supplied up to the amount needed for the Ministry of Food's contracts we have already arranged to reduce the supply of other tinplate to Denmark in proportion to the estimated reduction in our imports of canned meat.

Does that mean that there will not be exports from this country of tinplate for canned goods of a more luxury nature which, under the previous Government, were imported into this country at high prices?

It means that the tinplate exports have been reduced pari passu with the reductions which have had to be imposed on imports of canned goods.

asked the President of the Board of Trade for an assurance that, in the year ending December, 1952, the supplies of tinplate exported to Egypt will be reduced by 3,000 tons and supplies to Iran by 5,000 tons from the amounts supplied to these countries, respectively, during the year ended 31st December, 1951, in view of the need for the consumption in the home-canning industry and the difficulties with which we are confronted caused by the countries concerned.

It is not our practice to disclose detailed figures of our allocations of tinplate to individual countries as this would weaken our bargaining position with other countries. But I can say that exports of tinplate to Persia have been eliminated and thus reduced by rather more than the figure quoted by my hon. Friend, while exports of tinplate to Egypt will be reduced by rather less than that suggested.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that that will be a very satisfactory answer to the growers of fruit and vegetables in this country who will need the tinplate during the summer in order to help our supplies?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much public money had been spent on the British Export Trade Research Organisation between its foundation in 1945 and its winding up last month.

Grants from public funds were made to the British Export Trade Research Organisation in each of the four financial years 1947–48 to 1950–51 and amounted to £134,216.

Is it not a fact that just when this organisation was allowed to die our Japanese competitors founded a Japanese export trade research organisation modelled on it and paid this organisation the compliment of electing its director-general as honorary vice-president? Is it not a shocking thing to allow this organisation to die?

I appreciate that the Japanese have established some export organisation of this kind. In my view B.E.T.R.O., as it was called in this country, did a good job of work, but the truth was that it was not supported by industry, who did not find sufficient use for its activities. It was never contemplated that it should be run as a Government-sponsored body irrespective of whether it was required.

Ought not the right hon. Gentleman to have encouraged industry to appreciate the value of this organisation, now that the sellers' market has ended, in helping it to get on with the exports job?

Although exporters may not have been greatly interested in the organisation at a time when exporting was easy because the export markets were clamouring for our goods, does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the most unsuitable time for bringing to an end an export research, organisation is the moment when all one's foreign markets are withering under one's eyes?

Matters of that kind did not escape me when I was discussing this subject with industry. In the last resort it must be for industry itself to judge what it requires in connection with the export market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total number of defaults on first-feature films under the Quota Act between September, 1950, and September, 1951; and, in particular, what was the number of defaults on first features by the Rank circuit and Associated British Cinemas circuit, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Board of Trade Journal of 9th February, 1952, which contains on page 264 a detailed report on the 1950–51 quota year. Of the 771 first feature defaults, 23 were by theatres in the A.B.C. circuit. There were no first feature defaults by theatres in the Odeon or the Gaumont-British circuits.

Is not this a shocking number of defaults in view of the fact that we are trying to help the British Film Industry? Why does not the Board of Trade prosecute far more vigorously in these cases, for which there is no excuse whatever?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, these matters are referred to the Films Council for consideration and the matter of whether a prosecution should be brought is then gone into. The fact that there is a default on the quota in the amount of films shown does not necessarily mean that an offence has been committed.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that, at any rate in Scotland, the question of consumer choice is very much linked up with the question of default, and that this matter needs to be looked into, for it does not necessarily follow that films which appeal to an English audience also appeal to a Scottish audience?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the members of the Films Council, who are film exhibitors, defaulted under the Quota Act from September, 1950, to September, 1951; and if he will remove such defaulters from membership of the Films Council.

Four of the members representing exhibitors on the Cinematograph Films Council are directors of exhibiting companies which, at some of the theatres owned by them, did not exhibit the number of British films required by the prescribed quota. This does not necessarily mean either that an offence has been committed or that, if one has been committed, the director could be held responsible. No decision has yet been taken about prosecutions for defaults in the 1950–51 quota year, and no circumstances have yet arisen which call for the removal of any member of the Council.

The President of the Board of Trade has just told us that prosecutions are decided by the Films Council. Is it not extraordinary, therefore, that four members of the Films Council should be people who are themselves liable to prosecution and do not prosecute themselves? Why are they not removed?

I do not think it would be possible to find anyone interested in films exhibition in a large number of theatres where at no one in any circumstances was there a default in the quota. Although the point put by the hon. Member is attractive at first sight, it is not quite so powerful on reflection.

Why should we spend dollars to help put the British Film Industry on its feet if the Board of Trade's own regulations for the industry are defied by people from the industry who are appointed by the Board of Trade to see that the regulations are carried out?

Is not the answer to all this to have a more realistic quota?

The quota has, of course, been reduced to a more realistic figure and should be adhered to.

Was the right hon. Gentleman really saying in his last answer but one that he cannot find any prominent exhibitor or a director of any prominent exhibiting firm to sit on the body which safeguards the operation of the quota who can be trusted not to violate the quota? If that is so, ought not there to be a real clean-up in the industry?

There is no question of that. There is no suggestion that these men have violated the quota or committed any offence under the Act.

There is.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what exemption he has granted to the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, from the requirements of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948.

None, Sir.

Would the right hon. Gentleman explain why this cinema only showed one British film last year and why it has not been prosecuted?

As the question of prosecutions is now under consideration, it will be better to leave it to be decided in another place.

Could we be given some assurance that this time those exhibitors on the Films Council who are themselves defaulters do not prevent any other defaulter from being prosecuted?

We have spent long enough on these Questions. I think that we had better get on.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will increase the allocation of blackplate to a Brixton firm, of which details have been sent to him, for the purpose of fulfilling dollar-earning contracts.

I have arranged for discussions to take place with the firm in question on an increase in their allocation of blackplate to correspond with their actual dollar-earning sales.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this answer will be received with some satisfaction by this firm, which employs 200 people who have been working short-time, although the firm has gone out of its way to go ahead with its dollar contracts?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many census of production and census of distribution forms are to be sent out by his Department in 1952; what is the average number of questions to be answered on each form; and what steps he is taking to simplify the questionnaire, consolidate questions, and economise in expenditure in the statistical department of his Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the census of production for 1951 applying to the leather goods trade, he will in future adopt a more simplified form than the present No. 172.

In 1952, no census of distribution forms will be issued. Census of production forms, which were normally sent out in January, will total about 275,000. Nearly 200,000 of these were sent to the smaller firms, and ask for only very limited information. The number of questions to be answered cannot readily be expressed as an average, but I will send my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) a typical census of production form.

I am carefully considering the future programme of the census. In the census of production to be taken in 1953, which was described in the Board of Trade Journal of 29th December, 1951, sampling will be introduced for the first time and the questions will be fewer than in any previous census.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I have here a census of production form with 12 pages and 250 questions on it? If he sends out 275,000 of these forms, it is going to result in him receiving more than 65 million answers? What would my right hon. Friend be doing with 65 million answers? Could he abate this extravaganza and introduce some economy into the statistical departments?

The number of answers required varies between firm and firm and industry and industry. I quite agree that the total number added together would be rather difficult to deal with, but in principle this census of production provides useful information and it is on the whole better for Governments to proceed with some knowledge of the facts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state his reason for refusing to grant licences to permit the decoration of pottery for the home trade, despite the fact that licences are issued in limited quantities to those wishing to manufacture as well as to decorate pottery for this market;

(2) whether, in view of the shortage of decorators in the pottery industry, he will consider issuing licences to decorate pottery to skilled persons not wholly employed in this industry.

Mr. Taylor—Mr. Willey.

Could I have an answer to Question No. 15?

I called the hon. Member but he did not rise.

There was a tremendous noise and I did not hear you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not responsible for that. The hon. Member must be on the qui vive.

I was on the qui vive, and was waiting for you to call my Question, but we could not hear any of the names called, certainly not in this part of the House, because of the noise proceeding from hon. Members opposite.

The hon. Member must remonstrate with those making the noise. Mr. Willey.

I understand that the President of the Board of Trade desires to answer Question No. 15, and I have consented.

With permission, I will answer this and Question No. 16 together.

The sale of decorated pottery on the home market is generally prohibited in order to promote exports. To this general ruling there are four main exceptions. Licences are granted for limited quantities of export rejects, fancy ware which is difficult to export, pottery made by artist potters, and pottery decorated by individual decorators who can prove hardship.

May I thank you, Mr. Speaker, and also my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, for allowing these Questions to be answered?

May I ask my right hon. Friend whether he really thinks that the small men would compete in any serious way with the big pottery manufacturers if they were given licences? Secondly, is my right hon. Friend satisfied that the export rejects scheme is not being abused at the present time?

I do not mind how many people compete with the large potters. What I am concerned with is that all the decorators we can get hold of are used on export work.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any idea where we can get these rejects?

I understand they are obtainable in the shops, but one has to be lucky to get hold of them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking in view of the extensive redundancy in the factories administered by the North Eastern Trading Estates Company Limited.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 4th March.

Would the right hon. Gentleman pay particular attention to the special problem arising at the moment over redundancy in particular localities within the Development Areas?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the commercial exploitation of the marine polyp, sertularia cuprisenea; and what has been the value, in any convenient recent period, of the export of this commodity to the dollar area or elsewhere.

The hon. Member is, I think, referring to a marine animal found in estuarial waters and which resembles a small feathery fern. I understand that after drying and dyeing it is used for trimming millinery and for decorative purposes. I regret that I have no information about the export of this commodity as it is not separately distinguished in trade returns.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a thriving trade in this commodity or creature on the coast of Essex, and that many of the fishermen in my constituency are anxious to know whether it is more in the national interest that they should catch fish or that they should catch polyps, in view of the apparent export potential; and is he aware that this is one of those rare Questions which are genuinely seeking information?

I doubt whether this decision would have a dramatic effect on our economy in either case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that as a result of the present retrictions affecting the import of essential pharmaceutical products from the United Kingdom into Hong Kong a considerable volume of our export trade in these commodities is lost to Canada and countries from the Continent of Europe to whose exports the restrictions do not apply; and whether, in view of the consequent impairment on our permanent trading position in the Colony, he will take steps to secure that these restrictions are either made to apply equally to the same classes of goods irrespective of the country of origin, or else are suspended until such time as the object in imposing them can be achieved through effective international collaboration.

I should like to make it clear that the limitation of United Kingdom pharmaceutical exports, to which my hon. Friend refers, applies only to the very limited range of pharmaceutical products which we regard as being of strategic importance. I am aware that the purpose of our policy is to some extent being frustrated by supplies from other producing countries. We are seeking a greater measure of international collaboration which would obviate this, but I cannot agree to relax our own restrictions meanwhile.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of licences granted for the importation of refrigeration equipment during 1951; and what is the anticipated quota for 1952.

During 1951 individual licences for the import of refrigeration equipment from dollar sources were issued to a total value of £557,710. This figure includes licences to the value of £142,413 which were issued under the Token Import Scheme. The remainder were for essential home uses or re-exports, individual applications having been considered on their merits. Refrigeration equipment from other sources was imported in 1951 under open general licence.

There are a number of changes in the import licensing arrangements for 1952. First, token import quotas have been reduced by value from 40 per cent. to 30 per cent. of the pre-war figures. Secondly, applications to import from dollar sources otherwise than through the Token Import Scheme will be considered against more stringent criteria. Thirdly, so far as imports from non-dollar sources are concerned, domestic refrigerators were removed from open general licence with effect from 11th March, 1952. The size of the quota has not yet been determined.

Will my right hon. Friend take note that there is a firm in this country which is writing to its clients advising them that, owing to greatly increased licences of tin from the Board of Trade, they are now able to supply domestic refrigerators of American origin in quantities which, they say, will be able to fill adequately all requirements?

My hon. and gallant Friend will see from my answer that stringent measures have been taken to reduce and, in many cases, cut out completely imports of this type.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of woven cotton piece goods exported by the United Kingdom during the years 1950 and 1951.

The total was £100,297,000 in 1950 and £132,192,000 in 1951.

Does the Minister realise that as a result of the decision of the Australian Government, one-fifth of these imports have now gone down the drain? What does he propose to do to help the cotton trade to recoup itself?

I am well aware of the effect of the Australian cuts on production of this character. The question is being considered at the present time, and discussions are going on with the Australian Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the substantial increase in the exports of raw rubber from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will consider imposing a ceiling on such strategic exports.

I am glad to have this opportunity of explaining the position since there have been recent Press statements which, no doubt inadvertently, gave a misleading impression

Exports of rubber to the U.S.S.R., whether from the United Kingdom or from Malaya have, since April of last year, been limited by export licensing to quantities related to our estimate of their normal civilian consumption. This is about the same rate of export as in 1950 before the development of large-scale fighting in Korea, and the rate is being kept constantly under review.

It is true that re-exports from the United Kingdom are greater now than they were in 1950. The explanation is that in 1950 the U.S.S.R. shipped 68,000 tons direct from Malaya and only 10,000 tons through the United Kingdom, whereas in 1951 the U.S.S.R. shipped 14,000 tons from Malaya and 42,000 tons through the United Kingdom. There are of course, fluctuations in monthly shipments within the annual rate.

In view of the surprisingly high level of those exports during the last two months of this year, will my right hon. Friend give an undertaking to keep a close watch on the whole position?

Yes, Sir, certainly. The matter is being kept under very close watch. The normal flow of rubber will not be increased.

Is the Minister aware that, in addition to the export of rubber from Malaya, the Russians are now getting rubber from Colombo and Ceylon?

I have no evidence that leads me to suppose that there has been a great increase in the export of rubber to Russia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will initiate trade talks with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with a view to obtaining supplies of timber and grain.

In the case of plywood and of coarse grains, imports are arranged as necessary under separate contracts concluded between the appropriate Soviet organisation and the responsible Department of Her Majesty's Government. Supplies of timber other than plywood are a matter for the private importer.

Is it not necessary to get the maximum imports of timber and grain from the U.S.S.R., and would not the Minister enter into negotiation with that country in order that trade talks might help to a better understanding between the Governments of both countries?

This trade is being conducted on a perfectly satisfactory basis at the moment.

Can it be called satisfactory when the imports at present coming in from the U.S.S.R. are about 2½ to 3 times as much as our exports, thereby giving us an unfavourable balance of trade? Surely it would be better to have trade talks which would equate our exports and imports and lead not only to better trading relations but to better international relations?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far he is able to give details of private buying from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Statistics of imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on private account are to be found in the Trade and Navigation Accounts. These imports in 1951 involved a very large number of private transactions but did not include coarse grains and animal feeding stuffs, canned fish, softwood and plywood, which were imported on public account. Softwood has now reverted to private trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of United Kingdom exports of carpets and rugs to the Commonwealth of Australia during the 12 months ended 29th February, 1952, or latest convenient date; the extent and percentum or ad valorem reduction of imports of carpets and rugs imposed by the Australian Government for the remainder of 1952; and the estimated loss of United Kingdom exports thereby entailed.

The value of carpets, rugs and mats exported from the United Kingdom to Australia during the 12 months ended 29th February, 1952, was £10.9 millions. Under the new Australian import restrictions these goods will be licensed at the rate of 20 per cent. of the value imported during the base year 1st July, 1950, to 30th June, 1951. As the quotas are not tied to particular countries it is not possible to say precisely what amount of United Kingdom carpets will continue to be imported into Australia, but the effect of the restrictions will undoubtedly be serious, for Australia has recently been taking almost half of our total exports of carpets.

In view of the grave significance to the carpet manufacturing areas of the United Kingdom of the right hon. Gentleman's statement, namely, to Kidderminster and Kilmarnock, will my right hon. Friend endeavour to assist the industry by discussing with the Chancellor of the Exchequer what prospects there are for bringing carpets within the general provisions of the Douglas Report in order that they might have the Purchase Tax upon them abated to help production within the industry?

That is, of course, a question for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that the very important questions which are involved in the Question are exactly the kind of matter on which the researches of the Export Research Organisation, if the right hon. Gentleman had not so hastily brought it to an end, would have been most useful? Is it not the case that the only way in which this damage can be minimised is by the provision of alternative markets? Is not that exactly what the research organisation was for?

Is the Minister aware that the Ministry of Labour announced in a review this week that 465 people have already been discharged, mainly from the carpet industry, as well as from the motor car industry? Is it not going to be a very grave situation for this industry? It certainly is not in accordance with what the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) promised at the last General Election.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what measures have been taken by the United States authorities to implement the Ten-Point Washington Declaration of September, 1949, signed by representatives of the United States, Canadian and British Governments, by which the United States and Canadian Governments undertook to examine ways and means by which the United Kingdom would be enabled to earn more dollars.

It would be difficult to cover so wide and important a subject as this by way of Question and answer, but I am grateful to my hon. Friend for emphasising, by calling attention to the terms of the joint communiqué, that a balance of international payments can be achieved only if both the creditor and debtor nations contribute to a solution.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to direct industry to those areas in which work is most needed.

As the hon. Member will be aware, we have no powers to direct industry to a particular location, but it is the policy of the Board of Trade to encourage firms seeking new capacity to set up in those areas most in need of additional industry.

In view of the continuing rise in unemployment since the right hon. Gentleman took office and the prospects of its rapid spread, will he take more vigorous steps in the direction I have suggested?

In view of the decline in the textile industry since the statement made by the right hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) last autumn, will my right hon. Friend try to bring new industries into the textile areas in Lancashire?

Hon. Members will appreciate that there are difficulties in the way of new industrial development, not only of policy by the Board of Trade but of shortage of steel and building capacity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has not permitted the erection of the advance factory on the Bede Trading Estate, Jarrow, to be proceeded with.

The reason is the same as given in the answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. F. Willey) on 28th February, namely, that with the present shortage of steel and the need to restrict capital investment we should not be justified in reversing the decision of the previous Government, taken early in 1951, that the building of factories in the Development Areas in advance of demand should be deferred indefinitely.

Is the Minister aware that his Government are supposed to do much better than the last Government and that his answer is therefore most unsatisfactory? Will he not look at the matter again?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state the total tonnage of imported asparagus which the Government intend to restrict importing into this country between mid-April and end of June this year; and whether he will consider increasing the protective duty on imported asparagus.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Heeley (Mr. P. Roberts) on 28th February and 6th March.

Does my right hon. Friend not realise that the position was not then made clear? Can we not have a clear statement?

This matter is still being considered as part of a comprehensive tariff application by the National Farmers' Union on horticultural products.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is thoroughly unsatisfactory?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what trade talks with the Argentine his Department are conducting.

rose—

On a point of order. We cannot hear a word.

There is a complaint that Members on the back benches cannot hear the right hon. Gentleman. If the right hon. Gentleman speaks into the microphone, he will find his voice will carry better.

Discussions on trade matters are due under the Agreement on Trade and Payments concluded with Argentina on 27th June, 1949, and the protocol to this agreement of 23rd April, 1951. As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Teeling) on 7th March, they will be conducted by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Buenos Aires.

Does that answer mean that the Board of Trade have handed over negotiations regarding meat, not to private traders, but to Her Majesty's Ambassador, who is connected with the Foreign Office and not with the Board of Trade? Where do the private meat traders of Britain come into this picture?

These negotiations are being conducted in a perfectly normal manner, and I think, if I may say so, better conducted than in the heat of great political controversy.

Is it normal now for trade negotiations to be conducted by the Foreign Office, when pledges were given and promises were made that these matters were to be handed back to the private traders?

We do not decide in advance of these negotiations how the meat is to be bought. It is a perfectly ordinary inter-Governmental negotiation.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the great importance of these negotiations to the Lancashire cotton trade?

Can we have an answer whether the private meat traders of this country turned down the question of themselves entering into negotiation with Argentina about the import of meat into this country?

That does not seem to be the Question on the paper, which asks what talks the right hon. Gentleman's Department is conducting. That seems a separate question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to rectify the unemployment and short-time working now becoming evident in the furniture and textile industries in Scotland.

We are aware that there is some unemployment and short-time working in these industries in Scotland and elsewhere, and are watching the position closely in consultation with the Ministry of Labour.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many people in my constituency and throughout Scotland are becoming increasingly anxious because of rising unemployment and especially short-time working? Is he further aware that if short-time working were calculated in man-hours, in my opinion it would show a further 15 per cent. increase in the unemployment figures for Scotland?

We are watching the position closely.

Is the President of the Board of Trade aware that in Bolton this week 10 cotton spinning mills are completely shut down, with no production, and that in these areas the mills largely make the finer quality of yarns which go into the better quality of fabrics that, under the D scheme, will now be taxed for the first time for some period? Will he therefore give serious consideration to cancelling the D scheme so far as it affects the textile industry?

This Question refers to furniture and textiles in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to offset the effect of a United States recession consequent on the decline in the value of the dollar.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the current falling off in United States consumer demand. I am sure that we can rely on the determination of British exporters to do their best to meet the difficulties presented by temporary fluctuations of this kind. The Government will continue to give all appropriate support to manufacturers producing for export.

In view of the serious sacrifices which the present Government are imposing upon the people of this country, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be more advisable to concentrate our efforts to a greater extent on the development of our Colonies and our Commonwealth in order to provide not only a more secure market for the future, but to develop those countries in order to provide us with raw materials and food instead of concentrating such great efforts on what is a very precarious market?

I appreciate the desire of the hon. Gentleman to promote Imperial trade, but it goes rather wide of this Question.

Would it not be a great advantage, in attempting to boost our exports to the United States, if the President of the Board of Trade had not let the British Export Trade Research Organisation down?

In view of the recession in trade with the U.S.A., will the right hon. Gentleman take more seriously the possibility of increasing trade with the U.S.S.R., and will he bear in mind that there is considerable anxiety in Scotland that there should be renewed trade in Scottish herrings?

That is a different question.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if, in order to relieve unemployment in Burnley, he will put into use the Magnesium Elektron factory at Lowerhouse which the Government built at a cost of over £4 million, during the war and which is now standing idle.

This was one of the factories erected to meet war-time requirements of magnesium. Present requirements are being met from other sources much more economically than would be possible at Lowerhouse, and as things are at present we do not need the output of the plant.

Does the Minister realise that this factory is situated in an area of great unemployment, that hundreds could be absorbed in this manufacture, and that it is an adequate substitute for steel in many cases? Why should we import it when the raw materials are at hand in this country?

This factory is being managed on a care and maintenance basis for use in time of war. If we were to try to put it back into production now, it would cost about £1 million and the production would be far less economic than other sources of production. There are also difficulties in regard to supplies of chlorine and magnesia.

Are there no vested interests behind this factory which are keeping it idle?

Not so far as I am aware.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a far better way of treating unemployment in Burnley would be to cancel all Purchase Tax on Manchester textiles for the next 12 months?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that no diminution in the showing of the films in question will follow his decision to use locally-owned projectors for the showing of films for the purpose of recruiting and training civil defence and fire service personnel.

It is too soon to estimate the precise effect of the new arrangements, but every effort will be made to ensure that such film showings as are essential for recruitment and training purposes shall be given.

When will it be possible for the right hon. and learned Gentleman to give an answer? If he will let me know, I will put down a Question.

If the right hon. Gentleman will keep in touch, I shall certainly do what I can on my side.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what orders have been issued to civil defence officers to bring their organisations to a state of preparedness.

Since the coming into force of the Civil Defence Act at the end of 1948, a series of circulars have been issued to local authorities containing information and guidance on various aspects of civil defence. The build up of civil defence is a continuing process and no special orders have been issued in the sense of bringing civil defence services to a state of specified readiness by any particular date.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend satisfied that he has enough recruits now to read these circulars?

I am never satisfied that I have enough recruits. I hope that every hon. Member will assist me to get more recruits. I am very glad, however, that over the last few months, since we have had the campaign, we have had a considerable addition in the number of recruits coming in.

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the purpose of the experimental growing of Indian hemp in East Anglia; and what precautions will be taken to ensure that the husks and dried flowers do not fall into the hands of those interested in the production of reefer cigarettes.

Hemp is being grown experimentally by the Agricultural Research Council Unit of Experimental Agronomy as part of its research into new crops. The scale of production is extremely small and I understand that the hemp heads are destroyed. It is an offence under the Dangerous Drugs Acts to be in possession of the dried flowering, fruiting tops of Indian hemp without a licence from the Home Office.

Who is responsible for seeing that the heads are burnt or do not get into undesirable hands?

The Unit of Experimental Agronomy are responsible. They have three plots in different parts of the country, and of only one-eighth of an acre each.

asked the Minister of Agriculture how many farmers were dispossessed on grounds of bad husbandry in 1951; how many are under supervision now and how many have been under supervision for more than a year.

Orders to terminate the occupancy of 70 farmers on grounds of bad husbandry became effective in 1951. On 28th February, 1952, 1,588 farmers were under supervision, 1,014 of whom had been under supervision for more than a year.

Do these figures suggest to my right hon. and gallant Friend that the time has come to revise the whole of this procedure?

I am looking into the whole position very carefully.