§ 2. Mr. Walter Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade what stocks of cotton purchased in the dollar area were held in this country on 1st March, 1949, and 1st March, 1950, respectively.
Mr. H. WilsonStocks of raw cotton in this country at the end of January, 1950 —the latest date for which figures are available—amounted to 282,000 tons, as compared with 260,000 tons at that time last year. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the level of stocks of particular growths.
§ Mr. W. FletcherDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that some reassurance would be given to the textile industry if the amount of American cotton were to be shown to be fully sufficient for all needs?
Mr. WilsonI believe that to publish figures of American cotton separately, or of other growths, from time to time, would hamper the Raw Cotton Commission in its buying.