§ 20. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Minister of Labour whether he can state the results to date of his recent appeal to workers who for various reasons have retired from the cotton industry to return to the mills; and whether he intends to send back to the industry some of those who, owing to the policy of concentration, are now engaged on munition production?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, Sir. The campaign was launched only last week, and it is too early to ascertain its effect. The Answer to the second part of the Question is in the negative.
§ Mr. SutcliffeIs it not essential that some of these workers should be withdrawn from munitions work and put back into the cotton industry? Is it not better to admit that a mistake was made and that too many were sent to munitions?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, Sir. There are still sufficient workers who have gone back to their homes in Lancashire who can be induced to come out and join in the national effort, rather than that those who have been transferred to munitions should be withdrawn.
§ 21. Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Minister of Labour how many workers in the cotton industry are still unemployed as a result of the concentration of the industry?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI regret that these statistics are not available.