HC Deb 14 July 1947 vol 440 cc2-3
2. Mr. Stanley Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, how many textile firms, spinning, weaving, bleaching, dyeing and finishing, respectively, exist in the British zone of Germany: how many spindles and looms are involved; of such firms how many, in each category, are operating; and how many spindles and looms, respectively, are idle.

Mr. McNeill

As the reply can be most clearly given in tabular form, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Prescott

Will the Minister give an assurance that all the facts asked for in the Question will be supplied?

Mr. McNeil

I am doing so to the best of my ability. I can assure the hon. Member that it is a long and comprehensive reply.

Following is the reply:

Industry. Firms operating. Firms idle. Capacity available. Capacity operating. Capacity idle.
Spinning … … 248 14 2,504,683 Spindles. 1,399,813 Spindles. 1,104,870 Spindles.
Weaving … … 887 152 93,313 Looms. 28,857 Looms. 64,465 Looms.
Narrow Weaving … … 498 51 6,424 Looms. 2,749 Looms. 3,675 Looms.
Yarn Processing … … 210 80 16,875,000 Kgs. per annum. 3,600,000 Kgs. per annum. 13,275,000 Kgs. per annum.
Cloth Bleaching … … 95,635,000 sq. m. per annum. 16,000,000 sq. m. per annum. 79,625,000 sq. m. per annum
Cloth Dyeing … … 111,250,000 sq. m. per annum. 30,000,000 sq. m. per annum. 80,250,000 sq. m. per annum
Cloth Printing … … 87,500,000 sq. m. per annum. 17,000,000 sq. m. per annum. 70,500,000 sq. m. per annum.
Cloth Finishing … … 96,000,000 sq. m. per annum. 15,000,000 sq. m. per annum. 81,000,000 sq. m. per annum.