§ Mr. Dobbieasked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement to the House on the closing of mills in Lancashire and the number thereof; whether it is his intention to make arrangements for the operatives who are displaced to be absorbed in work of national importance; what training period will be necessary for same; what will be conditions as to wages during that period; and when operatives are compelled to remove from one district to another will financial assistance be given them for removing, and will they, in the intervening period between employment, get any assistance in addition to the ordinary unemployment benefit?
§ Mr. BevinThe plans for concentration of the cotton industry in Lancashire are under discussion between the Cotton Board, the Cotton Controller, my Depart-1182W ment and the representatives of the industry, and will be submitted to the Board of Trade shortly. Some steps have already been taken toward the concentration of cotton spinning, but I am not yet in a position to state the number of mills which will be closed. It is my intention to arrange for the workers who are displaced to be absorbed in work of national importance, and I hope that the arrangements will enable transfer to be effected without intervening periods of unemment. Workers who are removed from one district to another to work of national importance will be given financial assistance in accordance with my Department's usual arrangements. In many cases I anticipate that no formal training for the new employment will be necessary, and that workers will be absorbed immediately into work of national importance on the usual wage scales. In some cases it may be desirable for workers to take a course of training under one of my Department's training schemes; if so, they will receive wages or allowances according to their age and according to the new basis of payment to persons under training, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.