§ Mr. Silvermanasked the Minister of Labour what was the average weekly wage paid to Lancashire weavers on the latest date for which figures are available?
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§ Mr. E. BrownI regret that no official statistics are at present available showing the average weekly wages of weavers in Lancashire at any recent date. A general inquiry has recently been instituted by my Department into the earnings of wage-earners in the principal manufacturing industries, including the cotton weaving industry, but the collection of the desired information has not yet been completed.
§ Mr. Silvermanasked the Minister of Labour how many weavers in Lancashire on the latest date for which figures are available, worked less than their full complement of looms?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe statistics collected by my Department do not enable me to state the number of weavers who are under-employed owing to working less than their full complement of looms.
§ Mr. Silvermanasked the Minister of Labour whether he has now any proposals to make to ensure that Lancashire cotton weavers who are under-employed shall receive unemployment benefit in respect of that portion of their working week in which they are unemployed and for which they receive no wages?
§ Mr. E. BrownI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 1st December last to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Tomlinson).