90. Mr. Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade when he intends closing down the flax mill at Howden, Yorkshire.
§ 93 and 94. Mr. Goochasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in view of the hardship which will result to the 1,000 workpeople when the flax processing factories are closed down, whether he will reconsider his decision;
(2) what representations have been made to him following the announcement of the Government's decision to close down the home flax scheme.
§ Mr. H. StraussMy right hon. Friend received a deputation from the Transport and General Workers' Union, the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and explained the reasons why the scheme must be closed down. These were set out in the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Sir W. Wakefield) on 4th November. The workpeople would have in some cases one year's and in others two years' notice of the dates on which the factories would be likely to close and the Ministry116W of Labour, through its local offices, would do its best to help them to find other employment. At the mill at Howden, Yorkshire, work will continue until the processing of the crop to be sown in 1955 has been completed, which is not likely to be before the autumn of 1956. Representations have also been received from parties interested in farming, research and flax spinning.