§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade if, taking the mills in the cotton and wool trades, respectively, he can state the total number in existence, the numbers which are closed, the numbers which are working short time, and the percentage of machinery used by those which are working short time?
1916Wattention has been drawn by any of the cotton firms in the Lancashire cotton trade concerning the proposal of the Government of India to increase the import duty on Lancashire cotton piece goods from 11 to 15 per cent.; and whether any representations are being made by the Lancashire cotton firms to the British Government with regard to the proposed increase of 4 per cent. in the import duty on Lancashire cotton piece goods?
§ Mr. GILLETTI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which were given on this subject to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle) on 25th February, to the hon. Member for Gillingham (Sir R. Gower) on 6th March, and to the hon. Member for Stockport (Mr. Hammersley) on 13th March, and of which I am sending him copies. I would repeat that I fully appreciate the grave effects which the proposed increases in duty are calculated to have on Lancashire.