asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will arrange for an increase in the allocation of cloth to British clothing manufacturers, thereby permitting fuller employment in the clothing industry and an increase in the value of our exports.

It will not be possible to increase cloth allocations to clothing manufacturers until there is an increase in the output of cloth from the textile industries.

Can the Minister say what amount of cloth is being exported at the present time, and why it would not be better for that cloth to remain for clothing in this country, thereby giving bigger employment in the clothing industry, and, at the same time, increasing the value of our exports?

If the hon. Member will put a Question on the Order Paper as to the quantity of cloth, I will give him a reply.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman answer the second part of the question?

As regards the second part, one must maintain the flow of exports in traditional markets, and cloth is one of the great traditional exports of this country.