asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that more adequate supplies of crockery and glassware will be made available to the public.

We have done, and are doing, our best to help manufacturers of crockery and glassware to increase their output by assisting them when we can over the supply of labour and machinery, and with building licences. Home production of both crockery and glassware is also' being supplemented by imports.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when President of the Board of Trade, gave an assurance in 1942 that he would divert goods from the export trade to the people of this country?

No doubt he was not then aware of the present economic situation.