§ Captain ELLIOT (by Private Yotice)asked the Minister of Labour whether a Conference was recently summoned which was attended by 100 delegates of employers and workers in the textile industry; whether on arrival the delegates were informed that the Conference had been postponed; whether on payment of their expenses by the Ministry of Labour they returned home without knowing the subject which they were summoned to discuss, the Conference being abortive in spite of a total cost to the taxpayer of about £400?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have seen a report in the Press setting forth the allegations which my hon. and gallant Friend now rehearses. The report states that they were made at a meeting of the Coventry Chamber of Commerce. The statements are without foundation. The reference to the summoning of 100 delegates of employers and workers in the textile industry suggests that the occasion under reference may have been the Conference called for the purpose of setting up a Trade Board for the Textile Small-wares Industry. Such a meeting was 1667 held at Montagu House on 9th June. The delegates were not informed on arrival that the Conference had been postponed; they did not return home without knowing the subject which they were summoned to discuss; the Conference was not abortive. A three-hours' discussion took place, in the course of which a large amount of information was obtained and a very necessary interchange of views took place. The Conference adjourned in order to enable the delegates to report the points raised at the meeting to their respective constituents, and the important duty of setting up a Trade Board in this industry was materially advanced. I am sure that the newspapers which gave currency to the statements to which my hon. and gallant Friend calls my attention—and I am obliged to him—will be glad of an opportunity of giving no less prominence to this statement.