§ 33. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Technology what consultations he has had in relation to the recent take-over bid for the Imperial Typewriter Company.
§ Mr. ShoreThe Ministry of Technology was fully consulted by the Treasury and by the Board of Trade on the proposal for the merger of the Imperial Typewriter Company Limited with the Royal Typewriter Company Incorporated —a division of Litton Industries Incorporated.
§ Mr. FarrI thank the hon. Gentleman for that Answer, but would he tell me whether he recommended to his Minister that this merger should not go ahead inasmuch as the Imperial Typewriter Co. was the only fully independent British manufacturer of typewriters in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. ShoreWe looked at this matter very carefully when it came before us and we had to recognise the deplorable fact that less than 20 per cent. of the British typewriter industry, when the Labour Government assumed office, remained in British control and ownership and that that section of the industry was already substantially undermined and was not seriously competitive with its rivals.