HC Deb 02 March 1965 vol 707 cc1107-9
2. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Minister of Technology what progress his Department has made in its proposed sponsorship of four key industries, announced towards the end of 1964; and if he will make a statement.

31. Mr. Harold Walker

asked the Minister of Technology what progress he has made in stimulating the development of the automation, electronics, computer and machine tool industries.

34. Mr. Atkinson

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in sponsoring four key industries, as announced at the end of 1964.

Mr. Cousins

I dealt with the computer industry in my statement yesterday. My Department has been studying the machine tool industry and I hope to make a statement in due course. We are also studying the problems of the electronics and telecommunications industries and discussing them with the representatives of these industries.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while his statement yesterday seemed balanced and fairly non-Socialistic, we on this side of the House are rather suspicious of his "sponsorship" intentions, particularly since, last May in Tribune, he said that there was a very good case for public ownership going straight away into some of these new, modern industries and that they should not be held up?

Mr. Cousins

The hon. Gentleman will not expect me to be responsible for what is written in Tribune any more than I am responsible for what is written anywhere else. If there were a case for public ownership of any section of the industries which I sponsor, I should not hesitate to come out openly with that point of view.

Mr. Atkinson

Would my right hon. Friend—

Mr. Webster

Take your hand out of my pocket.

Mr. Atkinson

The hon. Member who said that should speak up or mind his own business as far as my hands are concerned. [Interruption.] I do not think that hon. Members opposite are competent to start telling hon. Members to take their hands out of their pockets. As far as I know, there is no comment in Standing Orders which refers to hands.

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman was called to ask a question. I should be obliged if he would do so.

Mr. Atkinson

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the tremendous stimulus that his statement yesterday created throughout the country and the great response there has been throughout the computer industry? Will he look into the possibility of making a similar statement in order to create such a stimulus for the machine tool industry.

Mr. Cousins

Of course I was aware that there was a great deal of interest in what I was likely to say about computers and I was a little surprised and pleased when some of the journals not normally noted for their support of me endorsed what had been done in the interests of the country. I said that we were studying the machine tool industry, and there are later Questions about this subject.

Mr. Harold Walker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that those of us on this side of the House who for many years have been intimately connected with the application of machine tools welcome the belated interest now shown by hon. Members opposite in my right hon. Friend's appointment? Does he not agree that that interest justifies his appointment?

Mr. Peter Walker

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the facts about the machine tool industry which he gave in January, besides being wrong, gave the impression that he was suggesting that the machine tool industry was failing the nation? As the figures published yesterday show that the exports of the machine tool industry have increased by no less than 30 per cent. over last year, will he not agree that the machine tool industry is now showing great enterprise?

Mr. Cousins

There are several questions. I am not aware that the facts which I gave in January were wrong. They were far from wrong. I was speaking about the sophisticated side of the machine tool industry. The common facts are there if the hon. Gentleman wishes to look for them. There was a great expansion in the import of machine tools at the same time, a fact apparently not known to you—to the hon. Gentleman. I shall be prepared to give these facts in reply to a later Question about the machine tool industry.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

The right hon. Gentleman said that he was dealing with the electronics industry. Will he bear in mind that eight trade associations are involved and that it is a very complex industry—

Mr. David Griffiths

You are connected with it.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

There was an accusation, Mr. Speaker. I am not connected with any part of the electronics industry and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will withdraw the accusation.

Mr. Speaker

The accusation was directed at me. I ask hon. Members to help us to get on with Questions.

Sir Ian Orr-Ewing

Will the right hon. Gentleman consult the various component parts of the electronics industry? Is he aware tint we on this side of the House would like him to consider the matter slowly and thoroughly rather than make a quick appreciation of what is required?

Mr. Cousins

I shall be delighted to do as the hon. Gentleman suggests. I understood that there were nine and not eight associations. I have already had some preliminary discussions with the new body representing the electronics industry. I am very pleased to hear you say—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]—to hear the hon. Gentleman say that he would welcome our taking this slowly, which is in contradiction to some of the sentiments expressed in other Questions.