§ 1. Mr. Prydeasked the Minister of Labour how many carpet trade workers were unemployed and how many were working short time in Midlothian and in Scotland, respectively, as at 16th April, 1956.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)On 16th April the number of carpet trade workers wholly unemployed was 259 in Scotland and 51 in Midlothian. The number on short time in the week beginning 16th April was about 3,000 in Scotland and 60 in Midlothian.
§ Mr. PrydeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the situation has been accentuated since that time? Is he aware that the cheapest form of carpet in Britain is produced in this area and that it is the only place where tapestry is made? Is he further aware that our foreign markets have been closed and home markets are being filled by the importation of Belgian cotton carpets, which are sold at prices against which our workers cannot compete?
§ Mr. MacleodI think that recently there has been a slight, although very slight, improvement in the numbers of those on short time. The second and major part of the hon. Member's supplementary question is a matter for my right 982 hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, to whom the hon. Member already has a Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. WoodburnHas the right hon. Gentleman seen a report that a certain Scottish firm is opening a factory south of the Border? Does he take any steps to guide firms to places where there are unemployed, rather than to establish factories in places where there is already plenty of employment for the people who reside there?
§ Mr. MacleodIn conjunction with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, I always try to draw the attention of industrialists to places where there is a pool of labour. I have not seen the particular reference to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred. Perhaps he will draw my attention to it.