asked the Minister of Supply what is the amount of textile machinery ordered for installation in the spinning and the weaving sections, respectively, of the home cotton textile industry in the years 1948 and 1949; and what are the comparative figures for 1938 and 1939 after making the necessary adjustments for price variation.

Orders received for spinning machinery amounted to £3,700,000 in 1948 and £4,250,000 in 1949. The corresponding figures for weaving machinery were £1,600,000 and £2,100,000. No figures are available for 1938 and 1939.