Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that hosiery manufacturers' associations protest against the delay in giving effect to the pledge given by him in the House of Commons, promising legislation on the lines of the recommendations of the Merchandise Marks Committee, and that they desire to impress upon him the fact that every week's delay in dealing with the matter adds to the ranks of the unemployed in the industry and lengthens their probable 2455W period of idleness by postponing still further the date when manufacturers will be able to offer them work; that no definite pledge has yet been given that hosiery needles will be scheduled in the forthcoming Bill, and that the situation requires the immediate giving of such a pledge and of an express declaration of the intention of the Government to carry out such pledges in the first days of next Session?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have received representations from the associations mentioned by my hon. Friend as to the introduction of merchandise marks legislation. As I have already stated, a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Merchandise Marks Committee will, I hope, be introduced early next Session. If the last part of the question refers to the Key Industries Bill, I would call attention to my statement in the House of Commons on December 7th, that it is the Government's intention to make the Bill dealing with key industries the first measure of next Session. I cannot, however, make any statement in advance as to the inclusion of any particular industry in the list of key industries.