§ 31. Mr. S. Silvermanasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he 1127 is aware that Messrs. Daniel Walton and Sons Ltd., the proprietors of Bradley Mill, Nelson, have given public notice that they will shortly close the mill down because they are unable to compete with foreign importations; and how many other mills in Lancashire have closed down or given notice of their intention to do so within the last six months.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is aware of seventeen spinning and weaving mills in Lancashire, including Daniel Walton and Sons Ltd., that have closed down, or announced their intention to close, in the last six months. Some of these closures are attributed to reorganisation and concentration of production or to shortage of labour.
§ Mr. SilvermanArising out of that Answer, for which I am grateful, may I ask the Minister if he will bear in mind that in the case of the firm mentioned, the result of closing it down will be to dismiss 160 of the most highly skilled operatives in this field, and that the firm itself is a progressive firm, fully equipped, fully modernised and one which, one would have thought, would be able to compete with all reasonable conditions? Does not the hon. Gentleman see that there is fast arising a situation of almost catastrophic proportions?
§ Mr. MacphersonIt is not the case that all the workers who are released in this way will be lost to the cotton industry. They may be taken on by other firms.
§ 32. Mr. Silvermanasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to deal with the developing crisis in the cotton industry and to prevent a serious loss of production and trade.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe Government are providing substantial financial assistance to the industry under the 1959 Act. Disruptive imports are subject to various measures of restraint.
§ Mr. SilvermanIs not the hon. Gentleman seriously aware of the grave and widespread anxiety all over Lancashire about the situation that is rapidly developing? Does not he know that this is not confined to one side of industry, or to one political party? Has not he had representations from the 1128 combined industry in which members of both sides have been interested and active? Has he really nothing more constructive to say than what he said in answer to this Question?
§ Mr. MacphersonMy right hon. Friend is well aware of the anxiety at present existing in Lancashire.
§ Mr. SilvermanWhat are the Government doing about it?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe Government have repeatedly said that they consider that the restraint of imports of dutyfree Commonwealth cloth will undoubtedly be required for the whole period of the re-equipment and reorganisation of the Lancashire industry. The trouble is that the Lancashire industry has not yet fully digested those words.
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes not the hon. Gentleman know that a great many of the factories which he has said have closed have re-equipped themselves long ago, have used such assistance as the Government have given, and still find themselves in this calamitous situation? What is Lancashire to do? What are the Government going to do to secure some sort of revival of an industry that is almost the single industry in parts of Lancashire, and which has always been one of our vital export industries?
§ Mr. MacphersonThe Government are going to proceed with the cotton reorganisation Act as fast as possible, and I take this opportunity of urging strongly that before the closing date for applications for re-equipment grant, which is 8th July, every cotton enterprise that is thinking of modernising and re-equipping should make its application now. They will not thereby be committed to expending the money, but they will at any rate have the opportunity of taking advantage of the Act, and I hope that they will do so.
§ Mr. SilvermanOn a point of order. I beg to give notice that, owing to the extremely unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I shall take an early opportunity, if I may, of debating it in the House.