LORD ROCHDALEMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend, Lord Barnby, I beg leave to ask the question standing in his name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether, to achieve larger industrial production in general, they will now direct more consumer goods into the home market as a general incentive therefor, and particularly wool textile apparel in all forms; and whether, since the wool textile industry is still only working at approximately 65 per cent. of capacity, they will assure coal supplies direct and indirect to facilitate a higher approach to pre-war volume.]
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, in view of the urgency of narrowing the gap in our balance of payments, it is not possible to divert to the home market any of the consumer goods now being manufactured for export. In the case of textiles, the Government are appealing to the wool and cotton industries for a special effort to raise production during the coming months. Every effort will be made, within the limits set by the supply 941 situation, to see that production in the woollen industry is not held up through lack of coal.
LORD ROCHDALEI am most grateful to the noble Lord for his reply. I would like further to ask whether, in allocating coal, the Government would bear in mind the importance of supplies to firms that indirectly assist the wool textile industry. I have in mind, in particular, the production of soda ash.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy right honourable friend is very well aware of the difficulties which have arisen through the shortage of coal, especially at the I.C.I. works at Northwich, which is so much occupied with the manufacture of soda ash. Every effort is being made to see that the necessary supplies of coal to Northwich are expedited, and an assurance has, in fact, been given on those lines.