Catalogue description Board of Trade: Cotton Board and Textile Council: Minutes and Papers

The first meeting of the Cotton Board was held in September 1939 under the chairmanship of Sir Percy Ashley, but it was not until March 1940 that the board was given statutory powers (Cotton Industry Act, 1940). This Act provided for the establishment of the board for the purpose of 'performing, with a view generally to the benefit of the industry and in particular to the maintenance and extension of export trade therein, and advising on questions relating to the industry which may be referred to them by any Government Department.'

Additionally, the following services can be performed by the board:

• any measures calculated in their opinion to be conducive to the maintenance or extension of export trade in the industry
• research and investigation in matters relating to the consumption of products of the industry, and the promotion and encouragement of such research and investigation by financial assistance or otherwise
• the collection and publication of statistics and other information relating to the industry
• negotiation with any person in respect of any matter appearing to them to affect, or likely to affect, the industry

Under the Cotton Industry Development Council (amendment No.6) Order 1966 (Statutory Instrument 1966 No. 1578) the name of the Cotton Board was changed to the Textile Council.

The Textile Council Imports Commission was set up as a result of the proposal by Douglas Jay, President of the Board of Trade. Its functions were:

• to keep a watch on the volume, type, source and price of textiles of the kind produced by the industry covered by the Textile Council
• to assist firms or sections of the industry to prepare and submit anti-dumping applications to the Board of Trade
• to study and report on problems connected with imports such as evasion and substitution
• to act as the normal channel of communication between the industry and the Board of Trade on proposals to use tariff or import controls to regulate the flow of imports

The Special Committee appointed under the Cotton Industry Act 1959 was to look into costs, supplies and delivery dates. It consisted of a small group of members of the Cotton Board.