HC Deb 10 March 1955 vol 538 cc603-4
36. Mr. Hurd

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has been able to relax the restrictions on the imports of crawler tractors from Canada and the United States of America; and how many will be imported for agricultural use this year.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

We are still unable to afford imports from these sources of crawler tractors for which alternatives offering roughly similar advantages are available without the expenditure of dollars. So far this year licences have been issued for 35 of the heaviest types of crawler tractors, but probably none of these will be used for agriculture.

Mr. Hurd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are certain conditions in farming where a crawler tractor—especially one of American or Canadian make—is necessary for the efficient working of the land, and that farmers are having to continue to use the ones which they bought during the war, whose maintenance costs are unduly heavy? Will he look at the matter again to see whether agriculture can be given some small quota from the imports of these tractors?

Mr. Thorneycroft

These tractors are brought in under individual licensing arrangements. I am prepared to look at any individual case which my hon. Friend puts forward, but I have to take into account the question whether alternatives offering roughly similar advantages are available without the expenditure of dollars.