asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the percentage change in net new orders for textiles and clothing for July and August, 1961, compared with the average monthly figure for net new orders in 1959; and if he will give a similar comparison for the woollen industry alone.

There was a fall of 37 per cent.; compared with July and August, 1959, the fall was 26 per cent. With regard to the second part of the Question, statistics of orders are supplied voluntarily to my Department on the understanding that information about individual industries will not be disclosed.

Is not this a rather serious decline? Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the growing anxiety in certain sections of the wool textile industry? Will he not agree that the Chancellor's action in limiting the demand is having a very serious effect upon that industry?

In point of fact, the hon. Gentleman asked about July and August, but at the end of August, 1961, orders on hand were much the same as at the end of August, 1959. Order books are a rather misleading guide to future production.