Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 20 February 1940.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what steps he proposes to take to assist cotton manufacturers to secure a more adequate supply of cotton yarns;
(2) what proposals he has in mind to increase the export trade in cotton goods apart from those connected with research?
Mr George Tomlinson
, Farnworth
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any steps are being taken by His Majesty's. Government to bring about an expansion of the export cotton trade?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
The Government have introduced a Bill, which is now being discussed in Another place, under which a Cotton Board is to be set up whose main function will be to take action conducive to the maintenance and extension of the export trade in cotton goods Further my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Supply, has made an Order (The Control of the Cotton Industry (No. 4) Order) which is intended to ensure that the production of cotton goods, including yarns, required for the export trade shall not be delayed by the pressure of the demand for goods required for home consumption. In present circumstances, home orders must give way to export orders.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
Is the Minister aware that at the present time, owing to the conflict between buyers and sellers of yarns, valuable orders are being lost, either because the spinners are going ca' canny or because the margins fixed by the controller are so small?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
I am not aware of that.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
Is it the purpose of the Bill which is being introduced in Another place to cancel or to amend the Act which we passed last year, or to deal with a different problem?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
The Act passed last year is in part being substituted by the Bill which is now in Another place.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
Will the Minister look into that matter, because the facts are as I have stated, and will he see whether some practical action can be taken?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
I shall be very glad to look into it.
Mr Wilfrid Burke
, Burnley
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has given consideration to the question of fixing prices for cotton cloths for the home and/or export markets; and, if so, will he indicate the result of such consideration?
Sir Andrew Duncan
, City of London
Margins have been fixed for cotton yarns under an Order made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply. The question of fixing margins for cotton cloth is being kept under review by the Cotton Board.
During a debate members of the House of Commons traditionally refer to the House of Lords as 'another place' or 'the other place'.
Peers return the gesture when they speak of the Commons in the same way.
This arcane form of address is something the Labour Government has been reviewing as part of its programme to modernise the Houses of Parliament.
To allow another Member to speak.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
