§ 2. Mr. GREENEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information regarding the production of leather gloves since the import duty was imposed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAccording to returns furnished by the industry, the
§ Council select the subjects for their inquiries on their own initiative, or whether he, himself, suggests the subjects which are most appropriate for them to consider?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERSometimes one and sometimes the other, but I think we have arrived at general agreement as to what are the important commodities to which to direct their attention.
§ Following is the Table:
§ production of leather gloves in the last quarter of 1926 was nearly 30 per cent. greater than in the last quarter of 1925, the figures being approximately 132,000 dozen pairs, as against 102,000 dozen pairs.
§ Mr. GREENECan the right hon. Gentleman state whether safeguarding has had any effect on the price to the consumer?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like notice of that question, but, speaking from memory, I do not think prices have risen at all.
§ Major GEORGE DAVIESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the comparative periods there has been an increase of £150,000 paid in wages, and that, so far from there being any unemployment in the industry, there are nearly 1,000 additional employés in it?
§ 3. Mr. GREENEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information regarding the production of fabric gloves since the duty was imposed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAccording to returns furnished by the industry, the output of fabric gloves in the last quarter of 1926 exceeded the output in the last quarter of 1925 by over one-third.
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTCan the right hon. Gentleman say if there are enough glove workers to go round? Could we train some more?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAgain, I should like notice of that question, but I have certainly received no complaints on that subject. With regard to the question put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bournemouth (Sir H. Croft), I understand that apprentices are now being taken on in the trade, where there were none being taken on before.
§ 81. Mr. GREENEasked the Minister of Labour whether he has any information as to the increase in the number of workers in the leather glove industry since the import duty was imposed?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Betterton)From information furnished by the Joint Industrial Council for the Leather Glove Industry, which represents about 88 per cent. of the workpeople employed, it appears that between the last quarter of 1925 and December, 1926, the number of workpeople employed increased from 7,430 to 8,149.
§ Mr. GREENEWould not the increase have been much greater if there had 176 been a sufficient number of cutters to supply material for the other hands?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThat is a matter of opinion. In any case I would ask my hon. Friend to put his question down.
§ Mr. RILEYHas the hon. Gentleman any information that wages have increased to the operatives in the industry?
§ Mr. BETTERTONNot that I have noticed. Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down also.