HC Deb 03 May 1955 vol 540 cc1506-7
41. Mr. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, owing to the further deterioration in the knitted glove industry in Leicester and elsewhere, a considerable number of workers have now been laid off, and that the position of the industry as a whole is jeopardised; and whether he will now take steps to assist it.

Mr. Low

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 5th April.

Mr. Janner

Has the right hon. Gentleman made any inquiries at all which have shown him that the answer he gave was entirely incorrect and that, in fact, 30 per cent. of the employees have been laid off and have gone into other industries? Will he also make some attempt to find out what the correct position is, and say what he can do to help this industry?

Mr. Low

I have made further inquiries since I gave the answer to the hon. Gentleman and I find that the information which I gave to him then was entirely correct. I am still informed that there is no unemployment in the glove industry. It is quite true that some have been transferred to other industries, where they are working on full time.

Mr. Janner

Will the right hon. Gentleman refer to Mr. Kenniwell, who is a director of the National Hosiery Manufacturers' Federation and has given the unemployment figure—those laid off—as 30 per cent. of the industry's labour force?

Mr. Low

As I have told the hon. Gentleman, so far as I am aware nobody is unemployed in the industry.