§ 31. Mr, McMasterasked the Minister of Aviation what steps he is taking to help and encourage the British aircraft manufacturing industry to increase its sales within the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. AmeryI would refer my hon. friend to my reply to the hon. Member for St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) on 8th April. This explained the principal ways in which my Department tries to assist the aircraft industry, including support for its efforts to increase sales to the Commonwealth.
§ Mr. McMasterIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that all possible sales are being made to the Commonwealth? In view of the recent statement by the Leader of the Opposition, will my right hon. Friend consult him to see what ideas, if any, he had when he made that statement, so that we can benefit workers in the aircraft industry immediately?
§ Mr. AmeryI am never satisfied that we are doing all we can, but I am quite sure that, on the whole, opinion in the aircraft industry thoroughly deprecates what the Leader of the Opposition said concerning the exports to South Africa. Nothing could be more damaging to our export policy, not only to South Africa, but to other countries also.
§ Mr. CroninAre we to take it that the Minister is in favour of the policy of apartheid to the extent of providing weapons for the purpose?
§ Mr. AmeryIf that is what the hon. Member thinks, I suppose he concludes that the sale of Viscounts to China means 939 that the Conservative Government are in favour of the Mao Tse-tung line.
§ Mr. EdenDid the Australian decision to buy the Boeing 727 rather than the Trident contain any lessons for my right hon. Friend's Department? If so, what action has he taken as a result of learning them?
§ Mr. AmeryWe tried very hard to persuade the Australians to buy the Trident. We did not pull any punches or lose any opportunity of getting our wares across in this campaign. We cannot be blamed for the decision.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the complaints which I have heard from time to time, and that correspondence on the subject has been directed to hon. Members from Australia as regards both the sale of British aircraft and the production of British naval vessels in Australia to the effect that our public relations are most unsatisfactory—[Interruption.]—and that we do not advertise or boost our wares sufficiently? Will the Minister have discussions with the High Commissioner for Australia on this subject?
§ Mr. AmeryI have had a good deal of consultation. We are in continual contact with the High Commissioner and I have discussed with the industry what more we can do to promote exports. Certainly, we are always glad to receive chapter and verse on any detailed point where we fall short.
| SHORT BROS. AND HARLAND | |||||||||||
| Value of Work on Research and Development and Production Compared with Industry as a Whole | |||||||||||
| 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | |
| Per cent. | |||||||||||
| (a) Total activities | 1.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 |
| (b) Direct Government Contracts | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
| (c) R. & D. element in (b) above | * | * | * | 22 | 61 | 81 | 50 | 48 | 33 | 37 | 31 |
| * Breakdown for these years not available. |