§ 49. Mr. Niall Macphersonasked the Minister of Agriculture how many applications for purchase of reaper-binders were received through A.E.Cs. during 1946 in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively; how many were imported and how many manufactured in this country in 1946; and what was the, value of spare parts for reaper-binders imported in 1946.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsApplications for imported binders for the 1946 harvest were 1,938 in England, 344 in Scotland and 61 in Wales. Similar information for home produced machines is not available, as approval to purchase these has not been necessary since May, 1946. One thousand and forty binders were imported, in addition to 460 machines carried forward from the previous year. About the same number was available from home production. Separate figures for the value of imported spares for binders are not available, but provision was made for currency to cover importers' estimated requirements in full.
§ Mr. MacphersonIs the Minister satisfied that the imports of spare parts for binders are related to the type of binders at present in use?
§ Mr. WilliamsAll I can say is that sufficient dollars were made available to buyers to provide all the spares we required for binders or any other imported machinery.