§ 20. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of electrical generating equipment of all classes exported from the United Kingdom during the year 1950; the value of such exports during the first four months of 1951; and the value pro rata for the full year 1951.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossUnited Kingdom exports of electrical generating sets and generators (including parts) during the year 1950 amounted to £16,357,000, and during the first four months of 1951 to £4,075,000; the value pro rata for the full year 1951 of these exports is £12,226,000.
§ Mr. NabarroIn view of the devastating effect of power cuts upon our industrial production at present, arising 389 primarily from a shortage of generating equipment, is the time not now propitious to reconsider the whole of our export policy of this vital type of equipment?
§ Sir H. ShawcrossThe question of our export policy of electrical and other equipment is, of course, constantly under review—both from the point of view of economic and of strategic considerations, but I certainly would not commit myself to the view that these exports have not gained greater advantage than disadvantage.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that in the last few weeks power cuts in the most essential industrial area of the country—in the Midlands—have been far worse than ever before, arising simply from this cause?
§ Sir H. ShawcrossNo, Sir. The power cuts have not arisen at all as a result of exports of electrical generating equipment. In the main, this has consisted of small or medium-type generators, and the total capacity of the generators exported is very small, in comparison with the production of a single power station in this country, as I shall hope to show in connection with a subsequent Question.