Major BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, during an inquiry in regard to the toy trade under the Safeguarding of Industries Act, it was stated on behalf of the complainants that 30,000 to 40,000 toy-makers were out of employment, while, according to the figures of the Ministry of Labour, the number unemployed in the making of toys, fishing tackle, games, &c, amounted to 2,500; whether, in this case, the Board took any action to verify the grounds of the application as to unemployment; and whether, in view of the great disturbance and expense which these inquiries cause to traders, he will see that there is a primâ facie Case before referring any application to a committee?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, except that the Ministry of Labour figures are subject to the qualifications stated by the Minister of Labour, in reply to the hon. Member for Whitechapel (Mr. Kiley) on the 2nd March. As regards the remainder of the question, no application is referred to a Committee 1803W unless the Board are satisfied that a primâ facie case exists, and in this particular case it appeared to the Board that there was substantial unemployment.