HC Deb 10 July 1968 vol 768 cc513-4
41. Mr. Robert Howarth

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now received the Report of the Inquiry into Productivity and Efficiency by the Textile Council; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Crosland

The Textile Council expects to let me have its report before the end of the year.

Mr. Howarth

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is great eagerness in the Lancashire textile towns to see the report? They hope that action will be taken on the basis of positive proposals in it.

Mr. Crosland

I am glad to hear that there is such eagerness in the textile towns, because there was less than complete eagerness among some parts of the textile industry when it came to completing the questionnaire sent out by the Council. I assure my hon. Friend that as soon as the report comes out the Government will give it very urgent consideration.

Mr. Fletcher-Cooke

Is not one of the causes of delay in receiving the report that this fact-finding Committee can find no new facts and that all the facts are already known by the Government?

Mr. Crosland

I cannot accept that. I think that when the report is published it will be clear to the House that a number of interesting new facts and methods of analysis have come to light.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that both sides of the textile industry want to know what the Government's policy will be about import quotas when the present trade agreements expire in 1970? We are getting a little bored and restive through being con- tinuously told that we must await the report. When can we have some action?

Mr. Crosland

I am sorry if my hon. Friend is getting bored and restive. I can only make him more bored and restive by reiterating what I have said many times: I do not propose to take a view about import policy after 1970 until I have had the advantage of seeing the Textile Council's productivity report.