§ Mr. COOPERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that of all the motor cars of different makes and power offered for sale in this country only 37½ per cent. of cars are manufactured in the United Kingdom; and will he consider the advantages to British industry and British labour of imposing a substantial import duty on motor cars and accessories?
Mr. ROBERTSONI am not aware of the source from which the hon. Member derives his figures. The only official information as to the extent of the motor manufacturing industry of the United Kingdom is that contained in the Report of the Census of Production which related to 1907. The conclusion there arrived at was that the motor vehicles of home production sold in the United Kingdom in that year substantially outnumbered those imported (including imported chassis). Judging by the very satisfactory expansion in recent years in the exports of British-built motor cars the industry is not one which appears to stand in need of protection.
§ Mr. SNOWDENMay I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware—assuming the accuracy of the figure in the question that 62½ per cent. of foreign-made motor cars are used in this country—that they have been purchased by Tory Tariff Reformers?
§ Mr. FLAVINWill the hon. Gentleman say whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Walsall himself (Mr. Cooper) is continuously riding in an imported motor car?