§ 86. Mr. Nicholsonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government have formulated any plans for the future of the gem diamond industry; and, in particular, at what level of employment it is proposed that it shall be stabilised.
§ Mr. Belcher:The future outlook for the gem diamond manufacturing industry in this country will depend partly on the ability of the cutters to compete effectively in overseas markets, and partly on the availability of suitable rough diamonds, which for at least the next two or three years will be in acutely short supply. This latter consideration;s likely to restrict employment in the industry to its present level of less than 400 skilled and semi-skilled polishers and less than 200 other workers.