§ 64. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give information, by value and volume, of the exports during 1946 and 1947 of surgical instruments and X-ray equipment.
§ Mr. H. WilsonExports of medical and surgical instruments were valued at £835,000 in 1946 and £594,000 in 1947. Exports of X-ray apparatus in these years amounted to £520,000 and £542,000, respectively, but these figures exclude X-ray tubes and X-ray valves, which are not recorded separately. Figures of quantities are not available.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonIn view of the high conversion value of steel, particularly for surgical instruments, would the President of the Board of Trade see if it is possible to get an increased allocation for this valuable export trade?
§ Mr. WilsonI agree that it is a very valuable export industry, but my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury has already given some indication of the difficult steel position.