§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the rate of growth in the production in the hosiery industry during the last year for which records are available; and what growth rate he anticipates that the hosiery industry will achieve during the following 12 months.
§ Mr.MeacherThe rate of growth of production in the various sections of the
HOSIERY (SOCKS, STOCKINGS AND TIGHTS) 1972 1973 Percentage Thousand dozen pairs Thousand Thousand dozen pairs Thousand Thousand dozen pairs Thousand £ £ Men's socks and stockings: Wool 2,170 6,069 2,263 7,583 +4 +25 Synthetic fibres 6,156 11,423 6,838 13,571 +11 +19 Other fibres 226 517 229 597 +1 +15 Women's socks, stockings, pantihose and full-length stockings: Circular knitted 5,269 6,870 4,238 6,372 -19 -7 Fully fashioned 521 1,322 314 1,086 -40 -18 Tights and pantihose of synthetic fibres 42,755 59,031 42,724 61,050 Nil +3 Ankle socks and three-quarter hose 723 1,118 864 1,345 +19 +20 Children's and Infants socks, three-quarter hose and stockings: Wool 287 622 254 686 -11 +10 Synthetic fibres 5,103 7,384 6,314 9,316 +24 +26 Other fibres 385 519 315 465 -18 -10 All other hose, including theatrical stockings, and other hosiery not elsewhere specified — 1,082 — 1,030 — 5