§ 15. Mr. Chapmanasked the President of the Board of Trade what was the decline in motor car exports, by number and proportion, in the first quarter of 1961 compared with 1960; and to what extent the position has improved in April and May.
§ Mr. MaudlingCompared with the first quarter of 1960 the number of new cars exported in the first quarter of 1961 declined by 91,311 or about 53 per cent. Figures for May are not yet available but in April exports reached a level of 31,726 cars, an increase of about 12 per cent. over the monthly average for the first quarter of the year.
§ Mr. ChapmanIs not this nevertheless very alarming? Does it not point to the danger of a very bleak winter for motor car workers once the home summer boom in sales falls off? Would the right hon. Gentleman take up with the industry the complaints made at the week-end by the export director of B.M.C., who said that much greater freedom was needed for the Export Credits Guarantee Department, that better briefing of commercial counsellors was needed about this industry and that a more virile attitude to commerce in some of the 1371 embassies was needed? Does he realise, in other words, that complaints are being made that his Department and the Government generally are not assisting to improve the export of motor cars in the way they should?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think that without any question these figures underline the importance of exports to employment in the motor car industry. I will certainly examine any criticisms of our services, but it is sometimes a little too easy to blame the commercial officers overseas. I think that by and large they do a very good job.