§ 12. Mr. Ginsburgasked the Minister of Labour if, in the light of the estimate given by the wool textile industry of employment in the industry in 1966, published on page 124 of the National Economic Development Council's Report, 897 he will state his own estimate of employment in the industry in that year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HareNo, Sir. I am not prepared to commit myself to a forecast of what the future level of employment in a particular industry will be.
§ Mr. GinsburgIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the N.E.D.C. is quite categoric that employment in wool textiles will fall by 11,000 between 1961 and 1966? If that is an authoritative estimate, would the right hon. Gentleman give serious consideration to the need for new industries and new sources of employment in these parts of west Yorkshire which are overwhelmingly dependent on the wool textile industry for work?
§ Mr. HareI am a member of the N.E.D.C. and I would point out that what it did was based on an assumption and not a forecast. The industry refused to forecast, and that is one of the main reasons why I gave the hon. Member the Answer I did.