HC Deb 20 March 1923 vol 161 c2314
4. Mr. BECKER

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many paper-mills are shut down in England and Scotland through foreign competition, and how many men are unemployed from this cause?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)

I have been asked to reply. I regret that I have no information as to the number of paper mills shut down at the present time. Among the 61,000 workpeople insured against unemployment in the paper-making and staining trades, the total number registered as unemployed at 26th February was 4,528 or 7.4 per cent. It is not possible to say in how many of these cases the lack of employment was due to foreign competition.