asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning the establishment of a severance pay scheme for redundant textile workers; what information he has on schemes operated by other European Economic Community countries for redundant textile workers and how such schemes are funded; and if he will make a statement.

The national secretary of the textile group of TGWU wrote to my right hon. Friend recently concerning proposals for a special severance pay scheme for redundant textile and clothing workers and he has subsequently received further representations on the subject from the hon. Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw). So far as I am aware no other EC member state operates any special redundancy scheme for textile and clothing workers and this Government have no plans for introducing such a scheme.