HC Deb 17 February 1966 vol 724 cc1522-3
29. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the impact on investment in the distributive trades of the exclusion of retailing and distribution from the new system of investment allowances.

Mr. Darling

No precise estimate can be made, but I expect that, as forecast in Chapter 5 of the National Plan, investment in the distributive trades will grow less rapidly than in recent years.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Scottish Plan suggests that particular attention has to be paid to productivity in the distributive trades? Does the hon. Gentleman think that the exclusion of these trades from the benefit of investment grants is a good example of this attention?

Mr. Darling

The distributive trades will not be left out altogether. Under the new system they will get 30 per cent. initial allowances for plant and machinery, including vehicles, and they will get help with shop fittings, furnishings and office machinery. We think that this will be satisfactory.

Mr. Barber

In answer to an earlier Question, the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend said that most of the industrial and commercial bodies were in favour of this new system of investment allowances? Will the hon. Gentleman tell the House of one single body which is in favour?

Mr. Darling

We have had representations from most of the trade associations concerned. Some of them were critical of parts of the plan, some accepted parts, and it would be quite impossible to give a "yes or no" answer, or to name precisely anyone who answered.

Mr. Sheldon

Would my hon. Friend not agree that members of the little Neddy on machine tools were in favour of this system of investment grants?