§ 50. Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps he is taking to relieve the present shortage of spare parts for agricultural machinery, both imported and home manufactured.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsAlthough difficulties in obtaining certain specific parts are reported from time to time, I am not aware of any general shortage of spare parts for either imported or home manufactured agricultural machinery. My Department will continue to take all possible steps to expedite the shipment of parts from overseas for servicing machines already imported into this country, and British agricultural machinery manufacturers are giving priority to supplies of spare parts.
§ 62. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Agriculture if he will consider introducing legislation which will have for its aim the standardisation of the threads, nuts and bolts in all agricultural machinery.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsStandards for threads, nuts and bolts, recognised by the British Standards Institution, have been in operation for many years and are generally adopted by British manufacturers of agricultural machinery.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware that this seems not to apply at the moment, that I know of cases where part of a harvest has been lost because of this lack of standardisation, and that, small as it may seem, it is important?
§ Mr. WilliamsIf my hon. Friend likes to submit any information he has, I shall be glad to look at it.