§ 3.18 p.m.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, as I think your Lordships may know, the Cotton Board is the statutory Development Council of the Cotton Industry. It is empowered to impose a levy on the industry, with the consent of the Board of Trade, in order to raise funds for carrying on the various tasks which it discharges. The levy maximum at the present time is £450,000. The purpose of this new Order is to increase this figure to £525,000. This increase is required in order that the Cotton Board may be able to meet the additional costs arising from undertaking a sales promotion campaign in this country for home-manufactured cotton goods. The Board of Trade have consulted the appropriate organisations in the industry as they are required to do under legislation. The proposal to increase the levy is supported by roughly 95 per cent. of the industry. The textiles trade unions are not required to make levy payments to the Cotton Board. They have, however, agreed to make a voluntary contribution of £10,000 from their own funds towards the cost of the campaign. This is a measure of the importance which they attach to the campaign. It is also a tribute to the good relations between management and labour in this industry. I am sure your Lordships will welcome this initiative taken by the cotton industry to promote a campaign for advertising the merits of home-produced goods. Accordingly, I commend the Order to your Lordships. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Draft Cotton Industry Development Council (Amendment No. 3) Order, 1957, as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday, the 13th of March, 1957, be approved.—(Lord Mancroft.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.