§ 3. Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade what additional industries he is preparing to refer for the consideration of the Monopolies Commission; and whether he will refer the textile engineering industry for that consideration.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. I will bear in mind the suggestion in the second part of the Question.
§ Mr. HaleI am obliged for that answer, but would the Minister bear in mind that in Oldham and the adjoining area there is very substantial unemployment among textile machine makers, and that we are getting report after report saying that the textile industry is badly equipped and cannot maintain efficiency for lack of machines? This is not a world problem; it is a problem for the Government.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs I told the hon. Gentleman, I am not in a position to give a definite list of industries which are to be referred, but this, with other industries, is a matter for consideration.