83. Mr. PERKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of foreign woollen and worsted cloth imported into this country between 1st January, 1930, and the last available date; and whether he can state the approximate number of people employed in the manufacture of that foreign cloth?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMDuring the period from the 1st January, 1930, to the 30th June, 1931, the total declared value of woollen and worsted piece goods imported into the United Kingdom from foreign countries, amounted to £9,296,000. I have no information regarding the latter part of the question.
§ 88. Mr. BROTHERS(for Mr. THORNE) asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider the advisability of taking action in getting the employers engaged in the woollen and worsted trade in the various parts of Yorkshire to meet together with a view to changing the method of organisation in that industry, in accordance with the recommendations made by two commissions which inquired into this matter during the past four years?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWhile the position in this and other industries is kept constantly under review, I do not think that the action suggested by my hon. Friend would be likely to lead to any useful result. The reports of the inquiries, to which I presume my hon. Friend refers, did not contain specific recommendations for the reorganisation of the industry.
§ Mr. BEN RILEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any actual investigations of any kind are taking place?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThere is no formal committee of inquiry into this industry, but all the circumstances in Yorkshire and other parts of the country, have been reviewed, mainly from the point of view of amalgamations.
§ Mr. BROOKEAre the Government not prepared to set up a special commission of inquiry into the conditions in the industry?
§ Mr. GRAHAMNo, I have already informed hon. Members that I do not think that there is a case for an inquiry on those lines, but, in fact, as regards organisation, the ground is being covered in another way.