§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many textile workers in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency were unemployed or on short-time working, at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. John FraserOn 12th May 1975, of 1,126 people unemployed in the Macclesfield and Congleton employment office areas 175 last worked in textiles. In addition, during the week commencing 12th May, 830 workers in the textile industry in these areas were known to my Department to be on short time.
17W
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the British Textile Confederation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FootI have received no direct representations from the British Textile Confederation. I have, however, recently met a delegation from the All-Party Textile Group of Members to discuss the problems facing the textile industry. Both my Department and the Government as a whole are aware of these problems; and following the Prime Minister's statement on 23rd May the Government are urgently considering with the industry ways in which further assistance might be given.