HC Deb 28 January 1958 vol 581 cc180-1
6. Mr. Edelman

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the recent decline in trade on the part of the machine tool industry; and what action he is taking to find new markets for this nationally important industry.

Sir D. Eccles

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him yesterday. As regards new markets, I am glad to say that in 1957 the machine tool industry achieved record exports, including a particularly gratifying increase in shipments to North America.

Mr. Edelman

Does not the right hon. Gentleman's reply mask the fact that more special purpose machine tools vital for our industry are being imported than we are exporting; and, further, is he aware that a quarter of the machine tool workers in the Coventry area, highly skilled men, are now facing redundancy? Pending nationalisation, will he take action to investigate the paradoxes of the situation?

Sir D. Eccles

I am not aware of this situation in the machine tool industry, but I will look into it.

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