§ 90. Mr. J. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take in regard to the plight of some 6,000 clothing workers employed at the Lancashire factories of Montague Burton, Halliwell Road, Bolton, Granville Street, Walkden, and East Lancashire Road, Wardley, who have, during the last six weeks, lost some half a million hours in wages as a result of the operation of short time due to shortage of cloth and materials.
§ Mr. BelcherThe supply of materials to the clothing industry is distributed through normal trade channels and, while I very much regret the difficulties which this large concern is at present experiencing, I should not be justified in taking special steps to divert supplies to it at the expense of other firms in the industry, many of whom are similarly engaged in reconversion to their civilian trade. Every effort is being made to increase production in the102W textile industries which is limited by shortage of labour and I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply that there will shortly be further limited contracts for demobilisation suits, for which this company will have the opportunity of tendering.