§ 24. Mr. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the difficulties confronting British manufacturers in maintaining their export trade, due to the high and heavy costs of manufactured articles, especially when being confronted with growing competition from Germany and Japan, who are able to produce the same or similar articles more cheaply and with speedier delivery 1128 dates; and what action he proposes to take to assist our export trade.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI am fully aware that United Kingdom exporters are being faced with increasingly severe competition, especially in respect of price and delivery dates, from Germany and Japan as well as other countries. To meet this competition calls for the greatest efforts from all concerned. The Government's policy is to keep the national economy in the healthy condition necessary to enable these efforts to be effective; but the major responsibility rests on everyone in industry to keep down costs and to improve production.
§ Mr. LewisI am particularly interested in the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's reply. Is he not aware that one of the main causes of the rise in the price of these articles is that the trade unions are being compelled to ask for wage increases owing to the rapid rise in the cost of food? Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a view to restoring the food subsidies, and thus assist in bringing down the price of these articles?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI thought that that matter was disposed of by my right hon. and gallant Friend the other day.
§ Mr. BurdenIs my right hon. Friend aware that both sides of this House should realise that this is not the time for making party political capital out of the situation, but the time when both sides should preach wage restraint and greater production?