§ 16. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether a Commission will be set up to inquire into the whole question of the textile industries, the wages, hours, and conditions of labour, and especially the question of woman and child labour in these industrial concerns?
§ Mr. WARDLEThere are in the textile trades joint bodies of employers and employed who have under consideration the subjects mentioned by the hon. Member. In the woollen, silk, hosiery and elastic web trades, joint industrial councils are at work, and in the cotton trade joint committees of employers and 849 employed already exist, and the formation of an industrial council is being considered. In the case of linen, jute and flax, trade boards are being set up. In these circumstances I do not think that a Commission is necessary at the present time.