§ 38 and 39. Mr. Woodburnasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether there is any co-ordination between his Department and the Service Departments ordering woollen garments; and whether any arrangements have been made to spread orders over hosiery firms on any principle proportionate to their capacity, with a view to avoiding overloading successful tendering firms at the expense of the collapse of the industry elsewhere;
(2) whether he is aware of the difficulties being faced by the hosiery industry in Clackmannanshire as a result of the restrictions in the sale of hosiery garments; and whether, in order to avoid unemployment and hardship, he is prepared to make arrangements with the Service Departments that the placing of orders for Service supplies will be done in conjunction with his Department, with a view to obtaining some fairness in the incidence of the legislation preventing normal sales?
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Andrew Duncan)The Board of Trade maintain close touch with the Ministry of Supply and the Ministry of Labour. All firms affected by restriction of home sales are being invited to furnish particulars of plant or labour available, in order that, wherever possible, use shall be made of them for war purposes. In the case of both English and Scottish hosiery firms, the planning of the Government requirements for all departments of supply is carried out by the Ministry of Supply, with the assistance of an Advisory Trade Panel, and in placing contracts for hosiery and knitwear, due consideration is given to all existing capacity available. So far as Scotland is concerned, alternative patterns to the present specification are now under consideration in the hope that these may be found suitable for economic manufacture there.
§ Mr. R. GibsonCan my right hon. Friend say whether there are ample supplies of wool for the orders which are in the hands of Scottish hosiery firms?
§ Sir A. DuncanI believe the wool is available.