HC Deb 18 January 1949 vol 460 cc11-2W
Mr. Hale

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the values respectively, of cotton spinning machinery and cotton weaving machinery produced in this country in 1948; what percentage of each was allocated for export; what percentage has actually been exported; and what percentage has been ordered for installation in the home cotton industry.

Mr. H. Wilson

I regret that complete information for the whole of 1948 cannot yet be given, but figures for the first nine months are available. They are as follows:

  1. 1. Estimated value of cotton machinery produced in this country during the first nine months of 1948:
    1. (a) Spinning (including preparation, spinning, doubling and winding)—£12,030,000.
    2. (b) Weaving (including weaving preparation, automatic and non-automatic looms, dobby and jacquard makers)—£2,630,000.
  2. 2. The export target for textile machinery was fixed at £2.83 million monthly at end of 1948 representing about 60 per cent. of expected production. No separate target was fixed for cotton machinery.
  3. 3. Estimated percentages of cotton machinery production exported during the first nine months of 1948:
    1. (a) Spinning 78 per cent.
    2. (b) Weaving 51 per cent.
  4. 4. Percentage of outstanding orders on manufacturers' books at 30th September, 1948, for installation in the home cotton industry:
    1. (a) Spinning 7 per cent.
    2. (b) Weaving 35 per cent.