asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dollars have been spent during the last year on the import from the U.S.A. of pure silk stockings.

3,810 dollars in the year ending February, 1947.

Will the Chancellor of the Exchequer give an assurance that he will save dollars by ceasing to buy silk stockings from America, and encourage our own industry to get on with the job itself?

The total amount of dollars at issue is a little less than £1,000.

This year?

This year; as I have already announced, we shall soon see in the shops, I hope, some very excellent home-made silk stockings and some may come from the hon. and gallant Gentleman's constituency for all I know to the contrary.