Mr. H. Wilson:

asked the Minister of Labour the number of workers who have left the cotton industry between 1st January and the latest available date, and the net reduction in employment in the industry.

No information is available about the total number of workers who have left the cotton industry. Between the end of December and the end of February there was a net reduction in employment of 2,000. Comparable figures are not yet available beyond the end of February, but the latest information on the cotton spinning side indicates that there has been a further reduction of some 2,700 during March.

Mr. Wilson:

In view of these very grave figures—and the right hon. and learned Gentleman will share one's alarm about them—is he not concerned about the difficulty which he, or his successor, will experience in getting workers back into the cotton industry when the present difficulties are over, as we hope that they will be soon?

I hope that the present difficulties will be over soon. I cannot speak for my successor, but for myself I would say that although these figures, which are between 1½ per cent. and 2 per cent., trouble me, they would trouble me more were there not other employment to which these workers could go.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend give any indication of the number of unfilled vacancies notified to employment exchanges in Lancashire at present?

I should require notice of a question about the figure. I was indicating that it is not a question of these people being unemployed; but one has to look at the cotton industry itself, which is what the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) meant.

When the right hon. and learned Gentleman says that he hopes the present difficulties will shortly come to an end, does he mean that in the view of the Government the disquieting situation in the cotton industry is purely temporary? If that be the view of the Government, will the Minister tell us the measures which they have in mind to bring this temporary situation to an end?

The hon. Gentleman who, like myself, has been trained in a profession of caution, will not expect me to trespass outside my own sphere of responsibility. It was the right hon. Member for Huyton who said that he hoped these difficulties would soon come to an end, and I agreed with him.

Mr. Wilson:

In view of the absence, through illness, of the President of the Board of Trade, which we all regret, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell us when we may expect a statement on the conditions which are causing this very serious loss of workers to the industry?

I am afraid that that is not a matter for me. Had I known the answer, I should have told the right hon. Gentleman at once.

May I ask my right hon. and learned Friend if it be the fact that these circumstances in the cotton industry may be due in part to new, man-made fibres being introduced which are superseding cotton in a great many cases; and that many workers, who have been engaged in the past solely in the manufacture of cotton materials, are now being employed in the manufacture of man-made fibres?