§ Mr. Burkeasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take in order to release mills in Burnley at present occupied as Government stores in order that they may be used by firms anxious to start or restart manufacturing.
§ Mr. LytteltonI am prepared to consider any request for the release of a mill where labour and materials are available. A representative of the Factory Control and of the Board of Trade Regional Office at Manchester are arranging to visit Burnley later this week.
§ Mr. Burkeasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Brazil has opened negotiations with U.S.A. for the delivering of 9,000,000 new spindles in the next four years; that this will increase Brazil's spindleage four times; and 1493W what steps the Government proposes to take in order to help the Lancashire cotton industry to re-equip itself for post-war trade.
§ Mr. LytteltonI have seen Press reports about possible purchases of textile machinery by Brazil from the United States, but I have no information about the quantities involved. The Machinery, Plant and Appliances (Consolidation) Order, 1945, dated 4th June (S.R. & O. No. 631) will enable provision to be made for a fair share of the increasing supplies of new cotton textile machinery now beginning to be manufactured to be available to firms in the cotton industry wishing to re-equip.