§ 27. Mr. HAMMERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in the redundancy scheme for the cotton-spinning trade; and whether he contemplates the introduction of legislation on the subject?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham (Mr. Crossley) on the 19th December to which at present I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYDoes my right hon. Friend appreciate that there are a considerable number of redundant spindles which cannot be offered to a non-existent redundancy board; and will he take into consideration the desirability of setting up this redundancy board even if the total number of redundant spindles may not have been offered at the present time.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI can only repeat what I said on previous occasions. If the proposal for the elimination of surplus spindles received the support of a sufficiently influential proportion of the trade, I shall be glad to ask Parliament for statutory sanction for the collection of the necessary levy.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYCan my right hon. Friend give any indication of what is a sufficiently large proportion to justify bringing forward legislation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot give the exact figure, but I hope that the general assurance will be sufficient to enable the industry to proceed with its plans.
§ Mr. CROSSLEYMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether, as all the replies were received before Christmas, he will make up his mind definitely before very long?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe delay does not rest here. The delay, such as there is, is in Lancashire, and not here.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLWill the right, hon. Gentleman inform the House whether he has accepted the basis of redundancy, and the basis of compensation which should be paid?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir, I think that the committee are much better capable of assessing these values than a Government Department would be. I have no doubt, when they are ready to put forward ripe proposals, they will take these valuations into careful account.
§ Mr. HAMMERSLEYIs it not a fact that very considerable progress has been made, and will the Government indicate that they will do their level best to introduce this legislation, even if the total 172 number of redundant spindles is not offered in the first instance?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI gave an assurance, which I made public in the House on the 19th December, and that assurance still remains binding on the Government.