asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance he is considering giving the leather trade, in view of unemployment in the industry.

None, Sir: the rate of unemployment in the leather industry is under 3 per cent.

Is the President aware that a number of very large and recently re-equipped tanneries have had to close down? Since he has established a precedent in the treatment of the cotton industry, are we to understand that this will apply only where the industry is a large one and not to small industries?

The number of persons previously employed in the tanning industry in Bolton who were out of work last month was 18, of whom 13 were temporarily unemployed. I do not think that the case of the tanning industry is on all fours with the textile industry.

Does the right hon. Gentleman always have to wait until the accident has happened? Is it not quite clear, owing to what has been happening over hides, with the Russians stepping into the market and buying about 70 per cent. of Commonwealth production, that there will be great trouble, even though it has not immediately expressed itself in terms of unemployment? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman, for once, be in front of the gun?

I think that on reflection the hon. Gentleman will see that it would be impossible for the Government to help every industry which said that at some time in the future it thought it would be unemployed.