HC Deb 23 January 1947 vol 432 c350
31. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he is aware of the shortage of fine knitting wool and baby wools in the Perth area; and what prospects there are of increasing the supply.

Sir S. Cripps

Hand-knitting wools are in short supply generally, but I have no information that the Perth area is less well supplied than other areas. Production, which is limited by the lack of skilled operatives, particularly in the worsted spinning section of the wool textile industry, is increasing, and was 18 per cent. higher last year than in 1945. The proportion of spinning capacity allocated to baby wools has recently been increased.