§ 36. Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Labour the number of operatives employed in the spinning industry in April, 1945 and 1946, respectively.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIt is estimated that the number of insured persons together with women in part-time employment, two of whom are counted as one unit, in employment in the cotton spinning industry was 113,600 at mid-1945 and 1799 123,100 at March, 1946. These are the nearest dates for which information is available. The figures include administrative and clerical workers as well as operatives, for whom separate statistics are not available. Particulars are not available as to the numbers employed in the spinning sections of other textile industries
§ Mr. SpenceIs the Minister satisfied with this very small rise, which is only some 7 or 8 per cent., having regard to the fact that most of our coupon difficulties in clothing are due to the spining bottleneck; and what steps is he taking?
§ Mr. EdwardsI should have thought that the steps which are being taken were well known to the House in view of the recent report.
§ Captain MacLeodOwing to the very unsatisfactory state of the woollen spinning industry, surely the Minister ought to know the figures of that industry if he is looking seriously into it?
§ Mr. EdwardsI was asked the figures for spinning only.