§ 52. Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that an increasing number of cotton mills in Oldham are working short-time and these 41W mills normally close on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and that a count taken on Monday gives a misleading picture; and whether he will arrange for a special count to be taken in the second half of the week.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am aware that short-time working in cotton mills in Oldham has been increasing. My information, however, is that the majority of the mills affected close down on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is no reason, therefore, to suppose that a count of the temporarily stopped on another day than Monday would give a more accurate picture of the extent of short-time working.