II. Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, when decontrol of any industry is sanctioned, it is proposed to carry this out piecemeal or as a whole.
§ 26. Colonel Lyonsasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the alarm felt in the established centres of the hosiery trade in consequence of the pronouncement that deconcentration is proposed in certain cases in Lanarkshire; whether he can make any further statement on the matter; and what proposals he has for the general equitable process of deconcentration in this industry.
§ Mr. DaltonIn view of the heavy demands on our man-power and other resources for the war effort, full deconcentration is unlikely to be possible until after both Germany and Japan have been defeated. But, subject to the circumstances of each industry and in consulta- 9 tion with those concerned, I shall take every opportunity, as labour and materials become available, to make a start with re-opening closed firms. As regards the hosiery industry, I am in consultation with representatives of the industry on deconcentration problems.