HC Deb 11 November 1941 vol 374 cc2081-2W
Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he has considered the protest by the Council of the Cotton Trade Merchants' Association against Cotton Control Industry, No. 25 Order, 1941, a copy of which has been sent to him, which requires all contracts more than 12 months old in the cotton trade to be cancelled; and whether he can do anything to meet the wishes of the association in this matter?

Flight-Lieutenant Etherton

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply whether he will consider an appropriate amendment of the Control of the Cotton Industry (No. 25) Order, 1941, to prevent the harm to our commerce and to the sanctity of contracts, on which the commercial reputation of this country has been built, caused by compelling traders to default on their contracts without even requiring the party benefiting from the enforced cancellation of a contract, to make any indemnity to the other party for the loss occasioned by such cancellation?

Mr. Harold Macmillan

The object of the Order was to free for essential uses cotton hitherto reserved by spinners against old contracts not capable in present circumstances of being completed owing to the necessity of applying the limited output possible during the war to essential needs only. I cannot see my way to provide by order for compensation for the cancellation of such contracts.

Mr. Kirby

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply how many persons of all grades are engaged in the various sections of the Cotton Control; and what are the salaries of the Controller, the Deputy Controller and their principal assistants?

Mr. H. Macmillan

The total number of persons of all grades employed in the Cotton Control is 453. The Controller is paid no salary by the Ministry of Supply, but continues to receive his salary as a member of the Import Duties Advisory Committee. The salary of the Deputy Controller is £1,200 per annum. The salary of Assistant Controllers, of whom there are seven, is fixed at £1,000 per annum, but one is unpaid, and one, who devotes part of his time to the Cotton Board, receives only two-thirds of the Control salary.