§ Mr. Sutcliffeasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give any approximate indication of the value of orders which will be given by his Department under the five-year rearmament programme to the cotton-textile industry; what is the approximate value of orders anticipated during the current year; and whether arrangements have now been made to give these orders, as far as possible, directly to the manufacturers concerned rather than through agents?
§ Sir K. WoodThe approximate value of orders for cotton goods, bought in the piece or by weight, over the period 1936 to 1939 is £377,000, the estimated figure for 1939 being £107,000. These orders are placed direct with the manufacturers of the goods bought.