§ 40. Mr. Hammersleyasked the President of the Board of Trade how many permits have been granted by his Department for the installation of air-conditioning plants in cotton spinning mills in the last two years; and in what respects are the conditions at these mills different from the conditions at those mills where permits have been refused.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)During 1942 and 1943, 50 licences were granted. Each application is carefully investigated and licences are granted where the need is greatest.
§ Mr. HammersleyDoes not that show that, in spite of the repeated statements of the right hon. Gentleman that he desires to remove these restrictions, in point of fact very little has been done, and will he see that in future there is less obstruction in the granting of these licences?
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. What it shows is, that the majority of applications have been granted—50 granted and only 38 refused. We shall do all we can, within the limits of labour and material available, to meet the claims of other industries as well as cotton.