Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the average age of a workshop employee in this industry before the war was only 25, and, therefore, their demobilisation in the ordinary way is a long way off?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that despite the recent changes in taxation designed to encourage the re-equipment of factories with new machinery, many firms in the cotton textile industry are hesitating to re-equip themselves owing to the high costs involved; and whether he will review the possibility of making further concessions in this matter.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Is the Chancellor aware that the price of new machinery has gone up to three times what it was before the war, and that even with the concession, it is impossible for the smaller manufacturer to re-equip?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many of these men will be approaching 30 years of age by the time they are able to qualify, and will he give this whole question further consideration?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he will now give an assurance that the log books of all deceased pilots will ultimately be made available to their next-of-kin.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: May I thank the hon. Gentleman for that decision, which will be very welcome?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the Minister of Works whether he is aware of the position in some districts owing to the call-up or transfer of skilled plumbers which is causing delay in the installation of water supplies and in the repairs to last winter's damage by frost; and what steps he is taking to meet this difficulty.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has already had a communication from one urban district in my constituency which was sent on from the Ministry of Health stating that no less than 70 houses still had frost damage from last winter unrepaired?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that development of the export trade in cotton goods is being delayed by most important matters concerning the cotton industry? When does he anticipate that the working party will be in a position to state what wages will be paid to certain of these groups in the cotton industry, who have been so badly under-paid in the past, and who,...
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Will the Minister give an assurance that the reduction will continue to keep pace with the speed of demobilisation so that, at the end, there will be no large stocks in reserve?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the Minister of Labour whether he can now state the names of those appointed to the Commission which is to consider the post-war organisation of the cotton industry.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Can the right hon. Gentleman say how long the work of the Commission is likely to take, and whether its report will be published in full?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: The Debate has covered a wide range and has dealt with the past, present and future of the coal industry. It has, like many other coal. Debates, been notable for speeches from Members who, like the hon. Gentleman the Member for Barnsley (Mr. Collindridge), have given many years of service to the industry either in the form of work in the mine or as mineowners. I want to turn the attention of...
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the financial adoption by Royton in Warships Week of the sloop "Sparrow"; whether this ship was in existence at that date or has since been constructed; and if he can make a statement on the subject.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Is the First Lord of the Admiralty aware that, as a result of the hope expressed in a letter of July, 1942, by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that a lasting association might be formed between the townspeople and the ship, school children have been writing continuously ever since and no notification whatever was given by the Admiralty for two years, until in July of this year the...
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Will the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that representatives of the industry will be fully consulted before any final decision is made?
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Can the Parliamentary Secretary say what proportion of those on strike are not members of the union.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: asked the Minister of Health what is the policy of his Department when a local authority, not wishing to build on unsuitable land which it owns, is anxious to acquire new and more suitable land; and whether all such applications for permission to buy are specially investigated before they are refused.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: Will my right hon. and learned Friend allow local authorities in such cases greater freedom to select land which they know to be most suitable for them? Great delay is being caused in some cases owing to the attitude of the Ministry.
Sir Harold Sutcliffe: May I say that I have been looking after the Rossendale Division, on behalf of the right hon. Member, since he left this country in June, 1941, which is hardly three or four years ago? I have dealt with all the correspondence, which is considerable, and have gone whenever possible to visit the constituency. The same, I think, applies to the others who are away. Some Member is looking after...