§ Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new factories started in this country since the imposition of key industries duties, the McKenna duties, and the safeguarding duties; and the number of people employed in these factories?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERComplete information is not available, but statements have appeared in the Press regarding the establishment or projected establishment, since the imposition or re-imposition of the relevant duties, of six factories making goods covered by the key industry duties, 11 motor car factories, five motor tyre factories, 15 musical instrument factories, and one wrapping paper factory. I have no information regarding the number of people employed in these factories.
§ Mr. WELLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of new factories started in the silk industry since the duty has been in force; and can he give any information as to the number of additional people employed in that industry during the same period?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI understand that 21 new factories have been started or projected for the manufacture of artificial silk yarn in this country since the silk duties were imposed. It has also been reported that a new factory is making natural silk goods, and that a number of other factories are engaged in further stages of production of artificial silk goods, often in conjunction with other228W materials. The number of workpeople, aged from 16 to 64, insured against unemployment in the silk and artificial silk industry, as estimated by the Ministry of Labour, was 45,620 in July, 1925, and 70,270 in July, 1928.