§ 4. Mr. KELLYasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of companies engaged in the silk industry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not able to give an exact figure as to the number of these companies. In the silk industry in this country some scores of firms are engaged in one process or another, but only about half-a-dozen carry through all processes. In the artificial silk trade there are about 20 firms engaged in the production of yarn. In addition to these a very large number of firms, of course, employ silk and artificial silk yarns, often in conjunction with other textile materials.
§ Mr. KELLYMay I ask where the Government secured those figures which were presented to this House at the time of the safeguarding discussion?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERSilk has not been safeguarded.
Mr. ERSKINECan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of those companies are likely to come to grief?
§ Mr. MAXTONDid not the right hon. Gentleman state, in reply to an hon. and gallant Member below the Gangway, that artificial silk was a safeguarded industry, and include it in a list he gave to this House?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am sure that I never included silk in articles which have been safeguarded. I may have said a duty was placed upon silk. With regard to the other question, I certainly do not propose to become a prophet of either profit or loss.