§ Mr. COOPER RAWSONasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Federation of British Industries, dated 24th February, 1924, recording an increasing volume of business in diamonds, and that the activity displayed in the diamond market has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations; and will he, under these circumstances, reconsider the reopening of the diamond works at Brighton?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI have not seen the report referred to. The late Government's scheme for helping the Brighton diamond works to re-open was abandoned because the firm concerned decided not to proceed. So far as I am aware, no fresh proposals for re-opening the works have been made. I may add that the great majority of the ex-service employés at the works have been placed in alternative training or given grants to start in business on their own account.