17 Mr. RHYS DAVISasked the Secretary OF State for the Home 332 Department (1) the number of licences issued to Germans for employment in the various German textile firms that have received permission to open factories in this country, and their duration;
(2) the number of German textile firms that have been granted permission to establish factories in Great Britain during the past six months, the numbers of British and foreigners employed, respectively, and where the factories are situated?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)As I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bolton (Mr. Entwistle) on the 30th July last, there has been no case during the current year in which permission has been granted to German nationals to establish textile factories in this country. In 29 cases during this period permission has been granted for the establishment of making-up factories by Germans. The number of permits issued for the employment of Germans by these firms is 23, in each case for a period of 12 months. I have no precise information as to the number of British subjects employed at present and it must be remembered that many of these enterprises have not yet, or have only recently, started, but I have no reason to doubt that they will ultimately give employment to a substantial number of British subjects. As regards the situation of the factories, I regret that, as explained in my answer on the 30th July, this information cannot be furnished.