asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will give particulars of the action taken by the Government to encourage emigration to the Commonwealth during the last years; and the figures for emigration to the Commonwealth during the Fast two years.

United Kingdom migration to the Commonwealth is promoted through the Empire Settlement Acts, which have recently been extended for another five years. Under these Acts the United Kingdom Government have concluded an Assisted Passage Agreement with Australia, as well as a large number of agreements with voluntary societies concerned with child migration. There is also the fullest possible co-operation with other Commonwealth Governments in other ways. During the period of two years to 30th June, 1952, 265,513 persons of Commonwealth citizenship migrated from this country to other Commonwealth countries.

Can the Under-Secretary say to what extent any of these proposals of improvements have been initiated by the present Government and what new action the Government are taking to deal with this matter?

Not without another Question.

As the needs of emigration, immigration and the transfers of population vary throughout the Commonwealth, would the Minister consider inviting the various Commonwealth countries to a conference, to decide on a common policy?

Different circumstances apply to different Commonwealth countries, and I doubt whether a conference of Commonwealth countries would be useful.

Has the Minister looked at "Britain on the Spree"? If he refers to that document he will see, on page 11, that the Government intended to take drastic steps to deal with this problem. The Tory Government now having got the reins, it appears that they have done nothing. Is this another broken promise?

Everything is conditional on finding something in the larder.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what arrangements he is making for the Bamangwato tribe of Bechuanaland to be present in this country for the Coronation.

The question of representation of the High Commission Territories at the Coronation is under consideration.

Would the Minister give earnest and urgent consideration to this matter and an assurance that whoever is elected by the Bamangwato tribe will be allowed to attend the ceremony?

Having in mind the terms of the Question, I cannot hold out any hope that the whole of the tribe will be invited to the Coronation.

If any of them do come will they be allowed to go back again?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made with the production in this country of the British textile discovery terylene; and what special steps are being taken to facilitate its production here on a sufficient scale to build up an effective export trade.

Production of terylene is at present limited to the output of a pilot plant. A full-scale plant, involving a heavy capital investment, is under construction, and should be in operation towards the end of 1954. Every effort is being made by the company concerned, with the support of the interested Government Departments, to complete the new plant at the earliest date possible.

As this is very valuable material—and the President is no doubt aware that a very large export trade could be encouraged in it—will the right hon. Gentleman hasten the production of this material, instead of waiting until 1954?

Those concerned with the building of this plant are hastening it, and we are giving them all the aid we can.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps Her Majesty's Government are proposing to take to guard British interests, in view of the action of the United States Congress which by its restriction on dairy imports under Section 104 of the United States Defence Production Act has infringed Article 11 and Article 23 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

Her Majesty's Government have strongly supported the representations made to the United States by the countries primarily affected and by the Contracting Parties to the G.A.T.T. that this breach of the General Agreement should be brought to an end, as has consistently been urged on the United States Congress by the Administration.

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him whether it is not a fact that the Commonwealth at large is greatly affected by this even as it is at present, and whether this is not a matter to be brought before the forthcoming conference to see if there can be a joint Commonwealth policy on it?

We shall do everything we can, both alone and together with the Commonwealth, to get this particular restriction removed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what value of factory building was authorised from 1st January, 1952, to the latest convenient date; and what was the value authorised in the same period in 1951.

The estimated value of Industrial Development Certificates granted by the Board of Trade for new factory buildings and extension exceeding 5,000 sq. ft. fell from £54 million in the first half of 1951 to £28.7 million in the first half of 1952, as the result of a substantial fall in applications. But, as the hon. Member is aware, figures indicating the value of Industrial Development Certificates granted do not measure the value of building licensed or of work started in the periods to which they relate.

Will the right hon. Gentleman send this information about the decline of factory building to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, who told a quite different story to a lot of gullible people at Scarborough?

I do not think that the Minister of Housing and Local Government has said anything which is inconsistent with this answer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many new factories were built in Wales during 1949, 1950 and 1951; and the number upon which construction has started since October, 1951.

In 1949, 1950 and 1951 the numbers of new factories (including extensions to existing factories) completed in Wales were 74, 65 and 59 respectively. Since 1st October, 1951, work has been started on 45 new projects. These figures relate to projects of 5,000 square feet and over.

Would the President be able to let me have the names of the sites of these factories—perhaps by post, if not in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I will give the hon. Gentleman any further information I can if he sees me afterwards.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) following the ending of the Utility scheme, what progress has been made in devising methods whereby the public can be assured of reasonable standards for clothing, household linens and furnishing fabrics;

In my view, the best assurance of reasonable standards for goods in the shops lies in the competition of British manufacturers for the custom of careful buyers. As the House knows, standards are being agreed between the British Standards Institute and industry to help the customer in his choice, and I understand that British Standards have been published or are in course of publication for bedding, industrial safety footwear and a range of women's, girls' and infants' clothing. Standards for other items of clothing, as well as for some cotton and rayon fabrics and household textiles may be expected before long.

But will not the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that undertakings were given, on the scrapping of the Utility scheme, that something else would take its place, and probably better? Will he take a greater interest in this to see that something is brought out which is practical at the earliest possible moment, because there is still need to avoid a great deal of waste?

I take a close interest in this matter, and all the undertakings I have given are being specifically honoured.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the sort of aspersions contained in Question No. 10 are greatly resented by all those employed in the textile industries, whose products are second to none?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while voluntary adherence to standards may be all very well, in the economic position of our country many people have not enough money to buy the sort of articles they would like and are inevitably driven to cheaper articles, and that if there is no safeguard of standards they will not be as well clothed as they would be otherwise?

There is a very high standard of goods in the shops available now to discriminating buyers.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that he gave undertakings that these things would be done at the earliest possible moment, and, with reference to the second of my Questions, does he realise that it is necessary to protect the public from many unscrupulous producers?

This work is going steadily forward with the co-operation of the British Standards Institute and the industries concerned, and I am satisfied with what is being done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet made a decision about the future of the Clothing Industry Development Council.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement on this matter.

Is it not a shocking state of affairs that the President, month after month for nearly 12 months, has been stating that he is trying to make up his mind about this? Is it really fair to the members of the Council, who have done a good job, and could do better still if they had an assurance? Is the right hon. Gentleman practising another form of Chinese torture to get rid of the members of this Council?

I do not think there is anything shocking, in this.

They think so.

This Council has done a good job of work, and I am in discussion with those concerned to see how this type of work can be carried on in the future.

When shall we get an answer?

Will the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the Council has provided a very useful consultative service to industry that has probably had the effect of raising productivity?

I think the consultative work has been one of the most valuable sides of its activities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been made for new factories and factory extensions in the West Cumberland Development Area; and how many licences to build have been granted.

According to the latest available figures, 55 applications have been made and 50 building licences granted since the beginning of 1945. These figures relate to projects of 5,000 square feet or over for new factories and extensions to existing factories; and they exclude projects which are known to have lapsed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have factories in course of construction at present in the West Cumberland area? Is he further aware that the Labour Government had plans to attract a further 10,000 workers into that area for employment. Is he also aware that one factory dismissed 200 workers only recently? Would he investigate that matter?

This Question is restricted to how many licences to build have been granted, and that I have answered.

Will the President bear in mind the points I have mentioned, because we have a fear that, despite what he has said, our plans will be frustrated?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman, if he wants to know about other things, will put Questions down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of factory building licensed for each Development Area, respectively, for 1952.

As the answer contains a table of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that in his plans for the Development Areas new factory building will not be frustrated by the circular which has been issued by the Minister of Housing and Local Government—Circular 54/52—which refers to Section 3 of the Distribution of Industry Act and which states that grants are to be cut down for important service?

That is a wholly different question from that on the Paper.

It is very important as it affects factory building.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will further reduce the quota for the importation of tie silk from abroad when next considering this question.

There is no separate import quota for tie silk. As has already been announced, there will be a single quota for imports of textile piecegoods from Western European and certain other foreign countries in the first six months of 1953. The value of this quota will be determined in the light of our balance of payments position.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that foreign materials brought into Britain for making up into ties is sold with a label on it, "Made in Britain"? It is not fair on the tie industry, which has had a very rough time.

Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend would raise that matter separately. This Question refers to the quota for imported piece goods. As I say, no separate quota is, in fact, granted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the present position of the textile industry, and particularly as to what improvements have taken place in recent months.

I am glad to say that a considerable improvement has taken place in recent months in production and employment in the textile industries. Unemployment has fallen by over two-thirds in five months, from 143,000 in May to 45,000 in October, and since May the latest figures show an increase of 35 per cent. in the production of cotton yarn, and of 26 per cent. in the deliveries of worsted yarn.

While congratulating my right hon. Friend on this very welcome achievement, may I ask him whether, when the conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers takes place he will discuss this matter with the British textile industry as fully as possible, in view of much unfair competition from Japan and elsewhere?

I assure my hon. and gallant Friend that the problems of the textile industry will never be forgotten by us.

While we all welcome the improvement to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, may I ask him whether he could tell the House to what extent there has been an improvement in the export position, and whether he could say whether he believes that the industry will be able to achieve the very high target set by the Cotton Board for next year?

I did make a statement in the debate recently about the export figures, but if the hon. Gentleman would like them in detail perhaps he would put a Question down.

As the real deterioration only set in after this Government was returned, why are the Government now bragging about the improvement?

If the right hon. Gentleman will consult those of his hon. Friends who understand this matter they will explain to him that the recession in textiles started long before this Government came into office.

Would it be too much to expect certain hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite to cease from trying to exploit the difficulties of the textile industry for purely political purposes?

Is the Minister aware that he, like the Chancellor, is now stating that the improvement is due to the Government placing re-armament orders and that that means that as soon as those orders are finished the cotton operatives will have to go back into despondency again?

If the hon. Gentleman would study the terms of my answer he would see that I said the recovery was helped by accelerated defence orders placed this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any list is being prepared of householders who are willing to provide lodging for visitors to this country for the Coronation.

Yes, Sir. I am informed by the British Travel and Holidays Association that such a list already exists and arrangements are being made to extend it in time for the Coronation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is in a position to make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the measures put forward by the Coronation Accommodation Committee concerning hotel charges for rooms on the Coronation route;

The Coronation Accommodation Committee inform me that they will undertake to investigate any specific allegations of over-charging brought to their notice. I will, therefore, arrange to refer to them for investigation details of any specific cases brought to my attention where exorbitant prices are alleged to have been asked for accommodation.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many people, and certainly I myself, are not satisfied with that answer? May I ask him, first of all, because I think that I should say this, if he is aware that the example which I quoted to him a fortnight ago was made by the Male Travel Bureau, of Madison Avenue, New York, and that they still adhere to that statement? May I also ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he does not realise that, if a list of these charges is not made, this business will go on because people who are being advised that hotels are full for this period believe that that is not the case? Will he ask for a further statement from the Coronation Accommodation Committee?

A great deal of the hotel accommodation has been already let.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public find it very difficult to reconcile statements from the hotels that they are full with statements that they do not know what charges they will be making? How can they be full, if these charges are not yet known?

I have some sympathy with the hon. Lady's point of view about these charges, as I said on the last occasion when she put down a Question about it. If she has specific instances in which she wants investigation made and she will draw my attention to them or the attention of the Coronation Accommodation Committee, I will see that that is done.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent consideration has been given to the metric system for the benefit of British trade.

As I announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for the Cities of London and Westminster (Sir H. Webbe) on Tuesday last, I have decided that I cannot accept the recommendation that the Imperial system of weights and measures should be abolished in favour of the metric system.

Will the right hon. Gentleman please not close his mind on this matter, and at any rate bear it in mind as a possible part of a long-term solution of some of our international trade difficulties?

I am also impressed by the very considerable dislocation that would take place in commerce and industry during any change over.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that it would make a useful contribution towards the metric system if he persuaded the Chancellor to abolish half-crowns and have 10 pennies to the shilling?

asked the President of the Board of Trade to give particulars of the manner in which he has strengthened the power of the Monopolies Commission and enabled it to speed up its work; and when these new powers will become operative.

As I explained in the debate on the Address on 5th November, it is the Government's intention to introduce a Bill dealing with these matters. It will not, however, be practicable to do so during the present Session.

But is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that for some four or five years the Conservative Party have been saying that they would do this, and are we to have it put off again? Is he not aware that our people would far prefer to have a Bill for this purpose than the de-nationalisation of transport and steel; and will he bring forward this Bill and drop the other two?

While I also am conscious of the desirability of extending the scope of the Monopolies Commission to cover nationalised industries, we have already spent some days discussing what should or should not be in the Gracious Speech, and I do not think I ought to extend it further in answer to a supplementary question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to improve the facilities for visitors at the British Industries Fair at Birmingham.

I am not aware of any widespread dissatisfaction. But the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, who have so successfully organised the Birmingham section of the Fair, and with whom the responsibility for the management of the section rests, will, I am assured, gladly consider any suggestion for improvement.

Is the President not aware that grave dissatisfaction has been expressed by foreign buyers, at both the restaurant and lavatory facilities at Birmingham; that in a recent inquiry of the National Union of Manufacturers 95 per cent. of the replies expressed the opinion that the facilities were absolutely deplorable, and that one manufacturer said that the catering facilities could only be compared with the British Army's incompetence in the First World War?

I believe that the vast majority of people, buyers and others, who visit that Fair are impressed with the extraordinarily good exhibition that is organised. But if the hon. Gentleman has any specific examples or instances to suggest, I am quite satisfied that the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce would be very happy to consider them.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the most important contribution which would be made to improving facilities at these fairs is a direct railway service from Earl's Court, London, to Castle Bromwich, outside Birmingham, with wholesome carriages and decent dining cars and buffet cars to enable foreign visitors to travel easily and comfortably between the two places?

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that the implications of this Question are not that the exhibits at the Fair are inferior but that the feeding and other facilities for visitors are deplorable? I know, speaking as a Member representing one of the Birmingham constituencies, and frequently having gone to the Fair, that the criticisms contained in my hon. Friend's supplementary question are entirely justified.

And mine.

I have assured the hon. Gentleman that if specific examples are drawn to my attention I shall be happy to look into them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has excluded Blackburn from the proposed new Development Area in North-East Lancashire.

Blackburn does not in my view qualify for scheduling under Section 7 of the Distribution of Industry Act, 1945, under the principles which were laid down in the White Paper on Distribution of Industry (Cmd, 7540) published in 1948, and with which I am in general agreement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the population of this important town has been steadily declining; that as a result of the textile slump there has been an additional loss of population in the last year of some 1,700 people, most of whom are young men, and that if the young men drift away because other industries are not provided, then the young women will go with them too—one of the natural phenomena the President of the Board of Trade may not have noticed—and we therefore shall not he able to man-up or woman-up the cotton industry?

While sympathising with the hon. Lady's difficulties in this matter, I would point out to her that there are a large number of textile towns more dependent upon the textile industry than Blackburn, and that if I were to start extending special forms of Government assistance to such a municipality as Blackburn I should have to extend them very widely indeed.

As, in spite of the efforts the Government made in the spring of this year to improve the situation, unemployment is still heavy in Blackburn, which the President of the Board of Trade has seen fit to exclude from his new Development Area, would my right hon. Friend give an undertaking that he will support all applications which are reasonable from Blackburn for building development and for building licences?

I hope I shall always support everything that is reasonable that is put forward from Blackburn or elsewhere, but I must tell my right hon. Friend that if we were to start extending a development area to places such as Blackburn there is no particular reason why we should stop there. We should have to advance over very large sections of Lancashire into places which are far more dependent upon textiles even than Blackburn, and to do that would be to undermine the real purpose of this Act.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that Blackburn was included in the list of areas which were put forward for scheduling to the President by the Joint Planning Committee for the North-East Lancashire weaving belt, which is an integrated economic unit whose problems are identical throughout the whole area; and that by scheduling merely a section of this belt he is making the problems in the rest of that area far worse than if he had not scheduled it at all?

Very large numbers of places, inside and outside Lancashire, have been suggested by that Committee and many other people for scheduling. If I were to accede to all those requests it would mean that the assistance which we could extend to areas which do really need it would become quite meaningless.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to help cotton towns in North-East Lancashire, such as Blackburn, which are excluded from the proposed new Development Area, to attract new industries.

As I stated on 29th October in a statement after Questions, the Government propose to relax somewhat the stringent limitations on factory building in some areas outside, as well as inside, Development Areas, where the outlook for employment is such that the attraction of new industries is clearly desirable. I shall certainly consider on their merits new projects for those towns of North-East Lancashire which are excluded from the proposed new Development Area.

In view of the fact that, despite the improvement in the textile trade for which the right hon. Gentleman has just claimed such credit, unemployment in Blackburn is still about 6 per cent., can I have his assurance that he will consider the unemployment figure in Blackburn as sufficiently serious to warrant his agreeing to all applications for licences for industrial development for new industries?

The interests of Blackburn will be considered in common with the interests of other areas both inside and outside Lancashire. If I were now to start giving pledges in respect of particular constituencies, I think I should be pressed from many quarters of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, by designating the proposed new Development Area in North-East Lancashire on such a narrow basis, he will be injuring the future development of excluded boroughs, such as Darwen; and if he will widen the basis in order that such boroughs may attract industries now artificially diverted to the Development Area.

I do not accept the hypothesis in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question; as regards the second part, I have already said in the statement which I made on 29th October that the Government propose to relax somewhat the stringent limitations on factory building for some areas outside, as well as inside, Development Areas where the outlook for employment is such that the attraction of new industries is clearly desirable.

If the weaving area, which the hon. Lady the Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle) rightly said is a national unit, is to be cut into two in this way, does it not inevitably follow that, at least to some extent, the excluded area will be prejudiced in favour of the included area?

No, Sir. I do not think it is prejudiced. It is true that the area which has been designated is one which, in my view, requires special assistance from the Government in order to help it secure some diversification. I have decided to give it that help if the House agrees, and I believe it would be wrong to take away from that assistance by spreading the area so widely as to make the help really meaningless.

If the President of the Board of Trade is determined not to extend the Development Area at the moment, will he at any rate, when he is giving the special assistance which he forecast in his statement to the House, bear especially in mind the rest of the weaving area which was recommended to his attention by the North-East Lancashire Development Council?

I shall, of course, consider each town inside and outside the weaving area on its merits in deciding whether that special additional help should be extended.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will remove price control from all nylon stockings and in particular from imported nylons as from 1st January, 1953, when importations are to recommence.

No, Sir. Nylon stockings are still scarce. Exports are again increasing and imports next year are likely to be very small. In these circumstances therefore, I do not think that I should be justified in removing price control.

Is the President aware that if nylons are to be imported next year the duty and Purchase Tax will make the cost so high that it will be impossible to sell them within the controlled price, and that nylons thus imported are likely to find their way into the black market, especially in view of the recent shortage?

If there is a question about what level the price control ought to be, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put it down. The Question here is whether I should remove it. I try to remove price controls where I think they are doing no good, but I think that in this case they are still necessary.

Is the President aware that his refusal to remove price control will be gratefully received by the women of this country, and that if he has to endure any pain from his own party in respect of the stand which he has taken many of us on this side will be willing to give him an analgesic?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far the increase in exports of rubber and tin from the United Kingdom and British Colonies to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and China during the current year represents a change of policy on the part of Her Majesty's Government.

There has been no change of policy. During the current year there have been no exports of rubber or tin from the United Kingdom and British Colonial Territories to China.

The Minister's previous reply did not indicate that the whole increase was due to that fact. If he says that there has been no change in policy, does he not recall the many protestations made by his right hon. and hon. Friends on this matter when they alleged that these exports to Russia and the satellite countries were being used for the purpose of destroying British lives in Korea and Malaya? If this is not a change of policy, are we to take it that the Government are collaborating with Russia in this nefarious trade?

I think that the hon. Gentleman is a little confused. The criticisms that were made at one time by the Conservative Party, then in Opposition, were about rubber exports to China. As I have said, there are no such exports at the present time, and with regard to exports to Russia, allowing for the backlog which I mentioned, they are running at the same rate approximately as in 1950.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in these two territories there are living some 800 million people, and that if the Government are serious in their belief of the necessity to rebuild world trade, it will be found that it is not possible to do so by keeping these 800 million people in isolation from the rest of the world?

I am as desirous as anyone of seeking to rebuild world trade, but in the process it is not possible to ignore all the important strategic considerations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) at what price in sterling and in cruzeiros the cotton taken from Brazil in the recently negotiated compensation deal was valued; and how this price compares with prices quoted at the latest convenient date for similar American cotton;

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the barter deal with Brazil whereby the Raw Cotton Commission is accepting Brazilian cotton in exchange for British jet-fighter aircraft which are being exported to Brazil.

I welcome the opportunity of making a statement on this matter. While the problems which have arisen in our trade with Brazil are serious and we are giving them anxious thought, they need in our view more fundamental remedies than compensation deals.

Leaving aside the merits or demerits of barter or compensation transactions, is my right hon. Friend aware that this deal has been negotiated in terms which imply that it is possible to get agreement on the rate of exchange between Brazil's currency and Britain's currency? Does not that suggest that the Board of Trade might do something on the same line on a larger scale, to free all channels of trade?

If my hon. Friend is suggesting that I should take this deal as an example and go out and try to get barter and compensation deals all over the world, the general criticism which has been directed to this isolated and rather defensible deal is my best answer to him.

Does my right hon. Friend realise that, by countenancing this deal, he is permitting a very important and considerable change to take place in this country's system of exchange control [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—thereby allowing any exporter to decide how his foreign exchange earnings may be handed over to a would-be importer? If this is to be the policy of Her Majesty's Government, I hope that the widest publicity will be given to it.

There is no change in the policy of Her Majesty's Government. As I said in answer to the Question, it seems quite clear to me that barter and compensation deals in general will not provide a solution to our problems. The point I had to decide here was a much more limited one. It was whether, in this case, we should either refuse an export licence for some aircraft or give a very special and hardly defensible direction to the Raw Cotton Commission as to how it should buy its cotton. In all the circumstances, I considered that, on balance, and in this case, I should not be justified in taking that course.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider another aspect of the deal? In view of the Prime Minister's criticism of the late Government for permitting the export from this country of military planes to South America and elsewhere—[HON. MEMBERS: "To Russia."]—will he draw the attention of his right hon. Friend to the fact that Her Majesty's present Government are pursuing exactly the same policy?

It rather depends on what one means by "elsewhere."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the criticism was that we were doing something wrong by allowing any military planes to leave the country, whereas, as a result of that, our aircraft industry has been built up? Now Her Majesty's Government are pursuing exactly the same policy.

It does not seem to me that there is any very clear comparison between the two.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to make a statement on the trade negotiations which have been going on since February in the Argentine; and what are the main obstacles to an early settlement.

The negotiations which both Governments were required to hold under the Agreement on Trade and Payments concluded with Argentina on 27th June, 1949, and the Protocol to this Agreement of 23rd April, 1951, have been somewhat delayed by the examination of outstanding points in the Protocol and by changes in the Argentine Cabinet. But we have recently exchanged comprehensive proposals with the Argentines and at the request of Her Majesty's Ambassador, representatives of the Treasury and the Board of Trade have now gone to Argentina to assist in the negotiations.

First, are the difficulties mainly financial and to do with the old transactions or are they mainly to do with current and future trade? Secondly, are the problems respecting trade mostly to do with the price we have to pay for meat or the price we are asking the Argentine to pay for our coal?

The best service that hon. Member can render to secure a satisfactory outcome would be not to press me for details of the negotiations at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage manufacturers of children's clothing to use shrink-resisting materials.

A number of manufacturers already use shrink-resistant materials in children's garments, and resistance to shrinkage is one of the points being considered in the preparation of British standards for cotton and rayon fabrics. The Board of Trade's part in this is to sponsor standards of this kind so that customers can be given sufficient information to enable them to exercise their freedom of choice in an informed manner.

Does the President realise how much parents suffer financially because clothes shrink before growing children get all the wear and tear out of them? As it would not be seemly for me to display it now, will he examine a horrible example which I will send to him?

The President of the Board of Trade is very well aware of these problems.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the Statistics Division of his Department has increased from 1,331 in 1951–52 to 1,379 in 1952–53.

The figures quoted by my hon. Friend were staff forecasts used for the purpose of preparing the estimates for the two financial years in question. In the figure for 1952–53 allowance had to be made for additional staff needed to prepare the results of the 1951 Census of Production. In the event, this addition was offset by reductions which it was found possible to make elsewhere in the Statistics Division, and the actual numbers employed fell from 1,328 on 1st April, 1951, to 1,314 on 1st April, 1952, and to 1,115 on 1st November this year. I expect that by the end of the coming financial year the number will have fallen to about 700.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and number of stilettos imported from Italy during the past year for retail distribution in the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not available. Imports of stilettos are not recorded separately in the official trade statistics.

Is the President aware that large quantities of these lethal weapons have been sold up and down the country, and is it not sheer madness, or stupidity, or both, to allow these imports to continue at a time when the public is really concerned about crimes of violence and about coshes, an example of which has been brought into the House by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?

On a point of order. Is it in order, Sir, for an hon. Member to bring an offensive weapon into the House.

It is not in order to bring weapons into the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Take it out."] I could not see from this distance whether it was a real one or a sham one, but if it is a real weapon it ought to be taken out immediately.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker, may I ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will stop the sale of these articles—[HON. MEMBERS: "Take it out."]—because, if they are not allowed in the House, why should they be allowed in the home?

That is not a question for me. What I have to do is to maintain the rules of order which prohibit the bringing of weapons into the House. I must ask the hon. Member to take it out immediately.

It is a sham, but by filling it with sand it can be made into a lethal weapon.

These articles are imported under a general quota which really covers stationery, and questions with regard to lethal weapons are not, of course, a matter for me but for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

Would it be in order if I reported the answer which I have just had from the President of the Board of Trade to the Home Secretary, so that he can take appropriate action?

The hon. and gallant Member must use his own discretion as to that.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the total exports of bottle-washing machinery to Australia in 1950, 1951 and 1952 to the latest convenient date; and if he will make representations to the Australian Government against their refusal to issue further licences.

I regret that this information is not available. Bottle-washing machinery is not separately distinguished in the official trade statistics. My Department have written to the manufacturers who are, I understand, principally concerned, and the United Kingdom Senior Trade Commissioner in Australia has been asked to make inquiries. When I have his report the matter can be considered further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent exports to Australia have fallen during the past nine months as compared with the equivalent period last year; and what are the chief industries affected in this country.

United Kingdom exports to Australia during the first nine months of this year were valued at £179 million compared with £222 million in the corresponding period of 1951. A wide range of industries was affected, but the decline in exports was particularly marked in the textiles group and in the motor industry.

What action is the right hon. Gentleman taking now to provide work for the people thrown out of employment as the result of the loss of orders from Australia?

These questions of intra-Imperial trade will be among those which will fall to be discussed during the forthcoming conference.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what is the present supply position of newsprint and the prospects for the remainder of the year and for the new year.

Supplies of newsprint in the United Kingdom should be sufficient to meet all requirements between now and the end of the year. During the first half of 1953 supplies should be sufficient to maintain the present average level of consumption. Arrangements for the second half of 1953 have not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will remove the ban on the use of printed contents bills by newspapers.

No. My noble Friend does not consider that the supply position justifies the removal at present of this restriction on the use of newsprint.

Can my hon. Friend tell us what saving of paper is, in fact, effected by having these rather smudgy contents bills instead of decently printed ones?

Not without notice.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade, as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether he will make a statement on the work of the International Materials Conference during the past year.

As the answer is long, with the hon. Member's permission I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Could the Minister say whether the Conference is in abeyance, and whether any action is being contemplated to deal with the purchasing and allocation of scarce raw materials in the future?

No, Sir, it is not in abeyance. Some of the committees are not continuing, but the Conference is continuing.

asked the Secretary for Overseas Trade as representing the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many of the persons appointed by the Minister as independent members of the Raw Cotton Commission are actively engaged in storing or warehousing cotton on behalf of the Commission; and how far such activities act as a bar to appointment.

None, Sir. The Cotton (Centralised Buying) Act of 1947 lays jointly upon my noble Friend and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade the duty of satisfying themselves that any person whom they appoint as an independent member of the Raw Cotton Commission has no such financial or commercial interest as is likely to affect him in the discharge of his functions.

Is it not a fact that one of the newly appointed independent members of this Commission is largely engaged on storehouse and warehouse activities for the Raw Cotton Commission, and is he not aware that one of the purposes of having independent members was to represent the interests of the public and the consumer? Is he satisfied that that is being done?

The right hon. Gentleman asked me about independent members, and the conditions about part-time members continue as was the case under him and his immediate successor. On the point I think the right hon. Gentleman is making, there are two representative of the operatives and the intention of the 1947 Act was that part-time members should have expert knowledge of the industry.

While I am sure the hon. Member does not want to mislead the House, is it not a fact that one of the part-time members who has been appointed is a contractor of the Commission, and is not that a clear change compared with the policy followed by the previous Government?

No, Sir, I do not think there is any change of policy.

Is the Minister aware that it is being stated that the gentleman who has just been appointed to take the place of somebody else is committed to an extent of about 90 per cent. of his own private business as being business with the Raw Cotton Commission? Does he think that that is justifiable?

Perhaps the hon. Lady will bear in mind that this Question was aimed at the independent members. If she wants to put down a Question concerning the newly appointed part-time member, I shall be pleased to answer it.