§ 20. Mr. W. Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade the annual amount paid by the Government to subsidise fabric textiles under the utility programme; and whether any reduction in this expenditure is contemplated in view of the present emergency.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe utility cotton and wool cloth subsidies were estimated to cost £24,625,000 during the current financial year. Payments in the first seven months of the year have amounted to just under £10 million. As far as the second part of the Question is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech.