§ 92. Group-Captain Wilcockasked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the German narrow fabrics industry is being rehabilitated; whether he is aware that the British narrow fabrics industry is 201W much concerned in this matter, particularly in the Derby area; and what steps he proposes to take to safeguard this industry in Britain which may otherwise be faced with severe unemployment.
§ Mr. BelcherThe German textile industry is not, under the Potsdam Agreement and the ensuing Level of Industry Plan, one of the industries whose capacity is to be reduced in order to curtail that country's war potential. The narrow fabrics industry will therefore be free to rehabilitate itself. The speed at which it can do so will, of course, depend on the availabilities of raw materials, fuel, power, and labour, which are, at the moment, in short or unbalanced supply.
I am aware of the United Kingdom industry's concern regarding the eventual re-emergence of German competition, but if a balance of payment is to be achieved, this and the other permitted industries must be allowed to export. I would assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it is no part of His Majesty's Government's policy to allow a reversion to the pre-war German policy of price manipulation and subsidies.