§ Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the artificial restriction of the cotton textile industry in this country has been accompanied by a steady expansion of production in Western Europe; and what steps he proposes to take in this matter.
§ Mr. ErrollThere has been no artificial restriction of the cotton textile110W industry in this country. The reorganisation schemes under the Cotton Industry Act, 1959, were directed at the elimination of excess capacity and were a necessary preliminary to the programme of grant-aided re-equipment.