§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Minister of Supply whether his attention has been called to a statement issued by the Cotton Controller in respect of overtime in the cotton mills which, inter alia, stated that this overtime would affect 750,000 operatives; and, having regard to the fact that the number of insured operatives in July, 1939, was less than 400,000, why, under the concentration scheme for the cotton industry, over 350,000 operatives have been added to the industry?
§ Mr. PeatNo such figure was given in the statement issued by the Cotton Controller. My hon. Friend may have been misled by incorrect statements in the Press. The number of operatives affected is about 85,000.