§ 9. Sir H. Williamsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction in the carpet trade in connection with the proposed concentration scheme; and whether he is prepared to have the matters in dispute examined by an independent committee?
§ Sir A. DuncanNo, Sir. The materials available for this industry will permit a production of only about 10 per cent., or at most 15 per cent., of the pre-war output. Concentration must, therefore, result in the closing of a large number of firms. A list of the firms to continue running was drawn up by the Board of 1770 Trade at the express wish of the carpet manufacturers, and the choice has, in general, met with the approval of the industry. The Board are being assisted in completing the details of the scheme by an advisory panel composed of carpet manufacturers.