§ 1. Mr. DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has received any information as to the number of employés at present idle through the strike at the mills in Bombay; whether there have been any incidents occurring between the strikers and the police which have resulted in fatalities and, if so, how many; and has he received any Report from the Commerce Member of the Government of India on the depressed state of the industry and the causes of the strike?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)About 145,000 workers are idle as the result of the strike. There was one fatality on the 23rd April—as regards which I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 10th May to the hon. Member for North Battersea (Mr. Saklatvala)—but none has occurred since. The Indian 638 Tariff Board investigated last year the depressed condition of the cotton industry, and on its Report certain remedial measures were taken. From reports which have been received from the Government of India, it appears that the strike is in a large measure due to the introduction of new systems of work recommended by the Tariff Board.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the mills are closed on account of the strike?
§ Earl WINTERTONNot without notice.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYHas the Noble Lord's attention been called to the statements about moneys from Communist sources, both in this country and Russia, being used for the accentuation and prolongation of the strike?