§ 33. Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the United Thread Company's mill at Meltham, upon which the town largely depends for employment and its local tradesmen for customers, is about to close down; and what action he proposes to take both to find work for those displaced and to utilise the mill itself at this time of national emergency?
§ Mr. E. BrownI understand that the mill is to be closed down but no definite date has yet been fixed. My Department are in touch with the firm and a considerable number of workpeople have already been released in order to take up other employment. Every effort will be made to place the remainder of the workpeople in employment when the time comes for their discharge. The facilities available at Meltham will be borne in mind by my Department. I understand that the Meltham Urban District Council have already been in communication with the Army Clothing Contracts Advisory Committee in Manchester, with regard to the possibility of using the mill for this type of work.