§ 4. Mr. Fellasked the President of the Board of Trade the export figures for the years 1950, 1951 and 1952, for calculating machines, listing machines, including printing calculators, and for accounting, billing, book-keeping and posting machines, respectively, which were wholly manufactured by the British office machinery industry.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWhile I could readily give figures of our total exports of office machinery, I regret that no figures are available to indicate to what extent the machinery exported incorporated components which were not wholly of British origin.
§ Mr. FellDoes that mean that my right hon. Friend cannot give me the number of wholly-British manufacturers who are engaged in the manufacture of these machines?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIf my hon. Friend wishes, I can circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total exports of office machinery, but I cannot distinguish between those which may have some non-British components in them and those which have not.
§ Following is the information:
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that three widths of fitting are available only in highly-priced footwear, which penalises the children of poorer parents who cannot afford to pay the high prices?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs I have said, I have no power to impose conditions on anybody, but I will draw the attention of those concerned to the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. ShepherdIs my right hon. Friend aware that if he makes this compulsory he will also make dearer the cheaper footwear?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have neither the intention nor the power to make this compulsory.
§ Sir H. WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that if shoes will not fit they cannot sell them? Is not that the solution to the problem?