§ 49. Major PROCTERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state up to what date the Committee responsible for drafting the cotton industry redundancy scheme considered statistics, and how many spindles have gone out of action since that date?
§ Dr. BURGINMy hon. and gallant Friend may have seen the statement issued on the lath of this month by the Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Colwyn, and, if so, he will have noted that statistics of spindles are given on page 3 of that statement for the year 1935. I understand that those figures show the position as at the 31st January, 1935, and that no information is at present available regarding the number of spindles that have gone out of existence since that date.
§ Mr. BAILEYIs it not a fact that 4,000,000 spindles have gone out during the last 12 months, and does the Minister see any reason why the rate in future should not be continued without compensation?
§ Dr. BURGINAs I have stated, the calculation of spindles was given down to the 31st January, 1935. The rate at which spindles go out of existence is known down to a period within the last 12 months.
§ 50. Major PROCTERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before proceeding with the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill, he will arrange to obtain an agreement from Japan that she will equally reduce or, at least, guarantee not further to expand her spindlage, and thus counteract any benefits which might result from the Bill in question?
§ 52. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, before proceeding with the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill, he will consider the desirability of recommending the introduction of a similar scheme into India, with a view to ensuring that the elimination of the redundant cotton spinning machinery in Great Britain is not stulified by the increase of spindles in India and the consequent further reduction there of the market for British cotton piece goods?
§ Dr. BURGINMy right hon. Friend does not think it desirable to make the consideration of the Cotton Spinning Industry Bill, which is designed to improve the competitive power of the United Kingdom cotton industry, dependent on international discussions.
§ Major PROCTERIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a scheme similar to this, 1221 known as the Stevenson scheme for rubber restriction, broke down because there was no international agreement?
§ Dr. BURGINI prefer to compare like with like.
§ Mr. CROSSLEYDoes the Minister realise how extremely urgent it is to pass this Bill at the very earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. BAILEYDoes the Minister realise that it is the price offered by Japanese mills that causes underselling, and not the existence of redundancy in the Lancashire cotton industry?