asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for 11 months of this year the value of the dyes imported into this country and the value of the exports of textile goods which require dyes in their manufacture?

The particulars for November are not yet available, but I will have a statement covering the trade of the first 10 months of the year printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I may add that, in a number of cases, goods in the making of which dyes have been used and others which may involve no use of dyes are included under a single heading, so that the statement necessarily covers some goods which do not fall within the description set forth in the question.

Will the hon Gentleman in making the return distinguish between German dyes sent to this country by way of reparation and those imported in the ordinary way of business?

I do not think I can do that in the return I am getting out for the convenience of the House for to-morrow's Debate. But if my hon. Friend wants any particular information and will put down a question I will see if I can get it.

Will the information be out to-morrow morning?

Yes; it will be printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

May we have the amount received by the Government by way of reparation imported into this country and in stock here now?

As a matter of fact, if my hon. Friend will read the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will see I have given that figure before. If he wants the figure for any particular day, perhaps he will put down a question.

Have we yet received any goods from Germany by way of reparation, and, if so, what quantity?

We have received a large number of dye-stuffs from Germany under the Reparation Clause The hon. Gentleman cannot expect me to carry in my head the precise amount,

Will the hon. Gentleman see that this information is at the disposal of the House before we begin to debate the new Bill to-morrow?

If my hon. Friend will consult the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will find that I have already given the, total amount received from Germany, and he knows that if he wants any particular figure he has only to put down a question to get it.

The following is the statement referred to:

Value of dyes, dye-stuffs and extracts for dyeing registered as having been imported into the United Kingdom from all sources during the first 10 months of 1920:

Exports from the United Kingdom of textile goods, in the manufacture of which dyes have been or may have been used, for first 10 months, 1920.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the increase in the cost of production of dyestuffs since 1913 in respect of labour, materials, and overhead charges, respectively?

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say, in respect of the principal dyestuffs, what has been the increase in price since 1913?

The dye-making industry is one of great complexity and its products embrace a wide range of classes of dyes and many different individual dyes within each class. The conditions of manufacture and the nature of the intermediates and other materials required are very diverse and the costs of production and prices vary accordingly. An all-over percentage figure showing the movement of prices and costs would have little significance, but I will communicate to both hon. Members a statement showing the movement of the prices of some representative

The following are the statistics mentioned:

dyestuffs. The cost of production, even if available, would have little significance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state for the 11 months of this year from what countries dyes were imported into this country and the value of the dyes so imported from each country, respectively?

I am having printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT statistics relating to the importation of dyestuffs during the first nine months of this year. Information beyond the end of September is not yet available.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us if the imports -for September amounted to nearly. 1,000 tons of the value of nearly a million pounds?

I had rather the hon. Member waited to see the table I am publishing. There is not the least doubt that the importation has been progressive, and increasing very rapidly

asked the President of the Board of Trade why no pro vision is made in the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Bill for any representation of the Board in the merchant interests which will chiefly be concerned in the obtaining of the necessary import licences?

I am not prepared to accept the interpretation put by the hon. Member on Sub-section (2) of Clause 2 of the Dyestuffs (Import Regulation) Bill, but the matter is one which can be more conveniently discussed during the Committee stage. I am sure the hon. Member will appreciate that it is impracticable to discuss by question and answer the constitution of the Committee, which will be fully considered when the Bill is under discussion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the dye- stuffs imported from Germany on account of reparation are selected dyestuffs; if so, what body makes the selection and who are the individuals composing the body; what body in this country receives and allocates the dyestuffs; and what principles govern the distribution?

The dyestuffs received from Germany on account of reparation have been selected by the Board of Trade in consultation with representatives of dye users and dye makers. The dyestuffs are received by the Central Importing Agency on behalf of the Board of Trade, and that agency allocates the supplies in accordance with instructions given by the Board of Trade from time to time, such allocation being made, so far as practicable, in accordance with the requirements of the individual consumers as notified by them to the Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who are the Government directors of the British Dyestuffs Corporation; and what are their duties, who appoints them, and to whom are they responsible?

The present Government directors of the British Dye-stuffs Corporation, Limited, are the Right Hon. Lord Ashfield and Sir Henry Birchenough, Bart., K.C.M.G. They are appointed by the President of the Board of Trade, and have certain special powers in addition to the ordinary powers of directors. I will have printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant extracts from the Articles of Association.

Are these directors paid by the Government or by the corporation?

By the corporation, and not by the Government.

The following are the extracts referred to:—