§ Colonel WOODCOCKasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of firms in this country engaged in the lace and embroidery trade in the year 1920 and in the present year; and whether he can give the number of firms who have 2047W gone out of business during that period owing to bankruptcy, arrangements with creditors, or having to discontinue business owing to bad trade?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have no information as to the total number of firms engaged in this trade in the years mentioned, or as to what number have discontinued business owing to bad trade. The total number of lace and embroidery manufacturers in respect of whom receiving orders were made or deeds of arrangement executed during the years 1920 to 1924, inclusive, was 40.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of machines established in the embroidery industry of this country; and whether he has any information as to the number of machines engaged in the same industry in Switzerland, Germany and France?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Lace Embroidery and Silk Committee appointed by the Board of Trade in 1923 stated in their Report that there were in this country rather more than 300 shuttle machines, and between 400 and 500 hand machines. They were informed that there were in Switzerland in 1920 about 5,300 shuttle machines and 7,960 hand machines, and in Saxony about 6,000 shuttle machines. I have no information as to the number of machines in other parts of Germany or in France.