HC Deb 01 May 1952 vol 499 c1654
35. Mr. F. Willey

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what amount licences are being granted for the import of mining machinery; from which countries such machinery is being imported; and why the machinery is not being made in this country.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Imports of mining machinery in 1951 amounted to £583,000, mainly from Western Germany (£300,000), the United States of America (£120,000) and Sweden (£100,000). Imports from Western Germany and Sweden may be made under open general licence; imports from the United States require specific licences. These imports only amounted to about 2 per cent. of home production and consisted mostly either of spares to maintain existing machinery or, machinery not made in this country.