Motor Car Industry

HC Deb 18 December 1956 vol 562 cc1073-4

6. Miss Burton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement upon the economic policy to be followed by Her Majesty's Government in order to maintain industrial production in the present situation, with particular reference to the motor car industry.

Mr. H. Macmillan

Some interruption of industrial production must be expected in the next few months as a result of the interruption in our supplies of oil. The Government are already taking all the steps required to keep this disturbance to a minimum.

The effect of petrol rationing has been to reduce temporarily the home demand for motor cars. As I made clear in my statement on 4th December, it is necessary to increase our external income and to keep internal demand under restraint. All industries which can increase their exports should make every effort to do so.

Miss Burton

Of course, that phraseology sounds all right here. Is the Chancellor of the Exchequer really aware of what it means in terms of human suffering, for example, in Coventry? Does he know that this very weekend I was talking with men who have been out of a job for at least four months and to one out of 20 applying for the same job? What will the Chancellor do for people like that?

Mr. Macmillan

I have tried to answer the Question. This is a very broad topic, which really needs debate. Perhaps it would be wiser to deal with it as a whole in the debate on the subject arranged for Thursday.

Miss Burton

Is the Chancellor aware that I tried in the last debate to ask some questions, to which I got no answer? Without being alarmist, is he aware that the situation in Coventry in the next six months will be as bad as it has ever been? Will he wait until it happens before finding something to do?

Mr. Macmillan

In the next debate, since I shall not be speaking, perhaps my right hon. Friends will be able very successfully to answer the questions.

Mr. Jay

If the Chancellor told us the Government policy today, could we not debate it more easily on Thursday?

Mr. Macmillan

I have described the Government's broad policy.