§ 49. Colonel Clarkeasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the number of flax mills at present operating in this country and the number of officers employed in this connection; and if he will give corresponding figures for the peak flax production period during the war.
§ Mr. Bottomley (Secretary for Overseas Trade)I assume that the hon. and gallant Member's Question refers to both the staff in the headquarters of the Directorate of Home Flax Production and the managerial and office staff in the flax mills. Ten flax mills are at present operating and the number of officers employed in connection with them is 99. For the peak period of production during the war, the corresponding figures were 17 and 142.
§ 54. Colonel Clarkeasked the President of the Board of Trade how much flax has been exported from this country to date during 1949; what was the price per ton; and to what extent this price was subsidised.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe latest published returns cover the first two months of 1949. No flax was exported during that period.
§ Colonel ClarkeDoes the hon. Gentleman consider that the export of flax is of importance to this country at the present time?
§ Mr. BottomleyWe want as much flax as we can get ourselves. Consistent with that, export is always desirable.