§ 2. Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state to the most recent available date the number of men and women employed in the cotton spinning and doubling and in the weaving sections of the cotton industry.
§ Sir D. EcclesAt the end of April, 48,600 male and 90,500 female workers were employed in spinning and doubling and 54,000 and 91,700 respectively in weaving.
§ Mr. HaleIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the Election of 1951, in every hour of every twenty-four hour day in every seven-day week, one man in Lancashire has lost his employment in this industry over a period of seven years? Is not this a deplorable indictment of the policy that Tory freedom works, and has not the time come when this Government should show that they have some interest in this great and historic industry?
§ Sir D. EcclesWithout being able to accept exactly the hon. Gentleman's figures, the fact is that those who have become unemployed in cotton have become employed in other industries.