HC Deb 19 October 1939 vol 352 cc1070-1W
Sir A. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Fourth Census of Production showed that 774,800 persons were employed in 1929–30 by small firms employing not more than 10 persons as compared with 680,600 in 1924, and that the total for the Census of 1935 is likely to be larger still; and whether, in view of the fact that it is such firms, and firms employing 100 persons or less, that have been principally affected adversely by existing conditions, he will consult with the Minister of Supply and with other contract placing Departments to devise some system whereby such businesses may, in the national interest, be saved from extinction by being given financial facilities to undertake and execute small contracts?

Mr. Stanley

Apart from building and contracting, the numbers employed by the firms employing not more than 10 persons were smaller in 1935 than in 1929–30. A considerable number of small firms are already employed directly on work for the Ministry of Supply and other Government Departments and many more undertake sub-contracting. Every effort is being made to utilise, so far as possible, the resources of small firms in connection with war requirements, and it will be possible to extend the numbers so employed, but it will be realised that many, in fact a large proportion of, small firms are not suitable for production work. As regards financial assistance, help is given by progress payments when this is appropriate and in some cases by provision of balancing plant, but generally the Ministry of Supply has no powers which would permit special assistance being given to firms merely because they are small and adversely affected by existing conditions.