§ 81. Colonel ENGLANDasked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the Government accepts the principle enunciated by the committee of inquiry into the cotton trade that the provision of necessary finance shall be limited to schemes which combine reduction of production costs with improved marketing; and, if so, whether this step meets with the approval of the cotton spinners?
Mr. G I LLETTI am not quite sure what the hon. and gallant Member has in mind, but if he fears that schemes of amalgamation in the spinning section of the industry will be unable to obtain financial support unless they provide for 206 the functions now carried out by the merchanting section, I think he is under a misapprehension. The report of the Committee makes it clear that the lines on which the Committee contemplate that reorganisation will proceed are by amalgamations in the sections at present unorganised as a necessary preliminary to co-ordination between production and marketing.
§ 83. Mr. HACKINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is in a position to make any statement regarding the policy of the Government in respect of the cotton industry
§ Mr. GILLETTIt is the policy of His Majesty's Government, wherever Government action is practicable and likely to be helpful, to co-operate in every way with the cotton industry in working out measures for the recovery of its lost trade. In pursuance of this policy my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the President of the Board of Trade recently visited Manchester in order to confer with the various sections of the industry in regard to the progress which it is making in considering and implementing the recommendations contained in the Report of the Cotton Enquiry Committee. These discussions are believed to have been of value to all concerned and it is proposed to continue them at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. HACKINGCan the hon. Gentleman say when these discussions are likely to be continued, as the Lancashire cotton industry is in a very bad way and something drastic must be done at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. GILLETTI hope, shortly, but I am afraid I have not the exact information. I can try to find out if the right hon. Gentleman would like me to do so.
§ Mr. HERBERT GIBSONAre any steps being taken to eliminate the undue number of middlemen in the cotton industry?
§ Mr. GILLETTI am afraid I cannot answer that question without notice.