§ 34. Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a petition urging the retention of the duty on wrapping paper in the interests of employment, signed by 8,422 workers employed in mills making wrapping paper; whether he can say what proportion of the whole number of workers in the industry is represented by these signa- 747 tories; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second in the negative. For the rest, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply returned to a similar question put to me by the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian, North (Major Colville) on 29th April.
§ Sir H. CROFTCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House what proportion of the total number of workers this figure represents?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo, Sir. I am sorry that I cannot give that information. As the hon. and gallant Member knows, it is very difficult to get complete statistics, and, therefore, I cannot give an answer.
§ Sir H. CROFTIn view of the vital importance of this question which will come before the House for consideration before long, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that this information is obtained?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWe do our very best in all these cases to get complete returns, but I am afraid that, short of compulsory powers, we cannot claim at any stage to cover the whole field.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman say what he is going to do with these 8,000 workers?