Machine Tools (Hansard, 25 November 1958)

§ 35. Mr. Edelman
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing tendency of machine tool manufacturers in this country to act as agents for foreign manufacturers for the sale of foreign-produced machine tools; and what he estimates the decline to be in potential production in the machine tool industry arising from this cause.

§ Mr. J. Rodgers
No, Sir. I have no evidence that this practice is increasing or that it affects potential production.

§ Mr. Edelman
If the hon. Member wants me to give him a single example of what is happening, is he aware that the most modern transfer machinery equipment of the motor industry in Coventry has been imported from a German firm called Heller? Is he aware that a machine tool manufacturer, Messrs, Wickman, of Coventry, are also agents for this firm? Finally, is he aware that recently the firm of Wickman's made a large number of engineers redundant? Does he not see the direct connection between the two?

§ Mr. Rodgers
Less than half the imports of machine tools are through machine tool manufacturers in this country. The handling of imports by United Kingdom machine tool manufacturers has two advantages: first, it allows them to offer a full range; and secondly, it ensures that their imports are regulated so as not unduly to damage their own production of machine tools.

§ Mr. Edelman
In view of the mounting redundancy in the machine tool industry, will not the hon. Gentleman say that he will encourage the British machine tool industry domestically to produce those machine tools which we are now importing?

§ Mr. Rodgers
We will certainly do all that we can to encourage the machine tool industry, but I hope I may be forgiven for saying that it would help the situation a little and it would help his constituents if the hon. Member would cease his campaign of criticism of the machine tool industry and instead offer some constructive suggestions.

§ Mr. Edelman
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.