HC Deb 01 May 1951 vol 487 cc130-1W
Mr. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the clothing output for 1950 was utility and non-utility; what utility goods were exported; and what is his estimate of the supplies for the home market for the coming year.

Mr. Rhodes

Statistics of the production of utility clothing generally are not available, but it is estimated that of the total production of made-up garments in 1950 the percentage of utility was approximately 85 per cent. in the case of wool and animal fibre cloths, 62 per cent. in the case of rayon cloths and 55 per cent. in the case of cotton cloths. About 85 per cent. of production of hosiery and knitwear for the home market was utility. Separate statistics of exports of utility garments are not available. As regards the last part of the Question, I do not expect supplies of clothing in 1951 to be markedly different from the level of consumption in 1950.

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