HC Deb 22 March 1956 vol 550 cc1436-8
3. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to ensure that the stocks of pottery which are being built up in the City of Stoke-on-Trent and the stocks of manufactured china in Longton are used to increase our export trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I have no reason to believe that the pottery manufacturers are not continuing to take advantage of every export opportunity that presents itself. The services of my Department are, of course, constantly available to give them all possible assistance.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Is the President aware that, as a result of the recent policy of the Government, even the best of the manufacturers are having to build up huge stocks rather than put their operatives on short time, and that they are hoping that the Government will take action to help them to dispose of those stocks? What action does the President intend taking?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I am aware that there is some short time in the pottery industry, and that these stocks are tending to mount. The situation differs in different parts of the industry, and, as I have said, the services of my Department are available for any export help that I can give.

4. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that employment and standards of the workers in the pottery industry, and the large-scale modernisation and investments of that industry, depend upon the maintenance of the industry's traditional foreign markets; and whether he will take urgent action to safeguard those markets.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I am aware that the well-being of the pottery industry depends on the maintenance of its foreign markets. These markets can only be safeguarded by a combination of the expansionist commercial policy pursued by the Government and competitiveness on the part of the industry.

Mr. Ellis Smith

That reply does not get us very far, as the President himself knows. Is he also aware that we are running into great difficulty as a result of the intervention of other competitors? Has not the time arrived when the President should consider taking some concrete and constructive action to assist the industry to maintain our traditional markets?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I think the best help we can give is to try to hold the markets as widely open as possible so that the pottery industry can take advantage of them.