§ 70. Mr. Randallasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the short coal supplies to the cotton industry are interfering with the minimum clothing needs of the nation and what urgent steps are to be taken to deal with the position and avoid the danger of the present inadequate numbers of workers in the industry being seriously depleted.
§ Sir S. CrippsI am aware that during the last two months there has been a serious loss of output in the cotton industry owing to fuel shortage. As I informed the hon. Member for Royton, in answer to a similar question on the 20th March, coal allocations to the cotton industry are being kept under constant review in the light of the supply situation and my hon. Friend may rest assured that we shall do our best to arrange an increase just as soon as possible.