asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (a) the total number of yards of woollen and worsted cloth imported for each of the years 1952 and 1953; (b) the total value of the cloth imported; (c) the total number of yards of spun rayon cloth which could be used as a substitute for woollen and worsted cloth imported for each of the years 1952 and 1953; (d) the total value of such cloth imported, and (e) whether the Irish mills are capable of producing all the cloth required by the Irish people.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Woollen and Worsted Imports.
The reply to the Deputy's question is as follows:—
(a) 1952—78,624 square yards, 1953 —2,113,196 square yards;
(b) 1952—£375,328, 1953 — £1,130,638.
The importation of these cloths i subject to quota restrictions and quotas are arranged periodically on the basis of maximum production by Irish mills and estimates of market requirements.
(c) and (d) It is not possible to distinguish from the import statistics the quantity of spun rayon cloth which could be used as a substitute for woollen and worsted material.
(e) The answer to this part of the question is in the negative. The import quotas fixed from time to time represent the extent to which Irish mills are not yet capable of meeting all home market needs. The production of woollen and worsted cloths increased during the past couple of years, and production of spun rayon cloths has commenced on a limited scale, but total production capacity for all such cloths is still deficient. Arrangements have been made for a meeting with representatives of the industry to discuss measures for a further extension of productive capacity.
Do I understand that our mills are not capable of producing the cloth required?
They are not capable of producing all the cloths in all the varieties necessary to fill home requirements yet; they will be.
Did I understand the Minister to say that imports in respect of 1953 were 2,100,000 yards?
2,113,000 yards.
As against 78,000 yards in 1951?
As against 78,000 yards in 1952 and something like 5,000,000 yards in 1951.
Perhaps the Minister would be good enough to explain the very large increase as between 1952 and 1953.
In 1952 we stopped imports of woollen cloth in order to work off the stocks we found there when we came back into office.
And the Minister's effort was so successful he had to import over 2,000,000 yards in 1953.
What is more, the demand went up very substantially in 1953.
Is the Minister aware that some of the mills can only work 42 weeks in the year? Yet, we import 2,000,000 yards of cloth?
The import quotas are fixed in agreement with the woollen manufacturers and that was the extent to which they thought they would not be able to meet the market in 1953.
That is not the whole story.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of licences for the importation of woollen cloth issued during the period September, 1953, to February, 1954, (a) the yardage of cloth under 7 ozs. per sq. yard as between the principal importing groups, and (b) the total yardage as between the principal importing groups.
The total quantity of woollen cloth licensed for importation during the period September, 1953, to February, 1954, was 1,015,427 sq. yards. Of this amount, licences amounting to 121,360 sq. yards and 173,469 sq. yards, respectively, were issued for (a) dress cloths under 7 ozs. per sq. yard, and (b) shirting and pyjama cloths, the bulk of which were under 7 ozs. per sq. yard. It is not possible to state the quantities for which licences were issued to the different importing groups. These licences were issued in accordance with arrangements which were agreed with the Association of Woollen and Worsted Manufacturers.