asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in reference to the Emergency Powers (Control of Export) Order, 1940 (Amendment) (No. 31) Order, 1949, removing control on, inter alia, leather cloth (a) if any leather cloth has been or is manufactured in this country; (b) if so, where, and (c) is the manufacturer protected against the free import of such material; if it is not manufactured here whether (d) has such material been imported, and (e) whether manufactured here or imported is there a surplus of such material over and above our home requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control on Leather Cloth.
(a) Leather cloth is manufactured by one firm which went into production a few months ago. (b) The factory is at Trim. (c) The industry is not protected. (d) There are no separate official statistics for imports of this commodity, but it may be taken that there have been imports. (e) I have no information as to the extent to which current supplies of leather cloth may be surplus to home requirements but am not aware of any shortage.