C
d
cotton shirts that attractively priced imports
have largely created their own market. Imports
of cheap children's underwear seem to appeal to
UX
a certain sector of the market from British
products, and given the existing price relation-
ship it is difficult to believe that restraints
on these imports would not put prices up in a
sensitive sector. I recognise that a continua-
درمانی
tion of imports of these 2 products at present
levels will provide little encouragement to UK
producers to invest, but it seems doubtful
whether in any event UK manufacture in these
sectors has prospects of viable expansion.
In the category of jumpers, cardigans etc total
imports account for little over 20 per cent of
consumption, of which Hong Kong and Taiwan account
for about two-thirds. These levels do not strike
me as excessive, especially as British production
appears to have been well-maintained.
We have of course looked with particular care into
the employment aspects, and it is difficult to be
convinced that imports are taking away or threaten-
ing jobs. Whilst I recognise that the amount of
female labour in the industry makes unemployment
difficult to measure accurately we are impressed by
the indications that at least amongst the
traditional East Midlands manufacturersį certain shortsges
of bbour irrose a significant constraint on the
greater use of capacity and on expansion.
3