§ 6. Mr. Hazellasked the Minister of Technology if he is aware of the complaints made by farmers concerning new farm tractors and machinery which prove to be faulty and are constantly breaking down; and whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to investigate this position and take appropriate action.
§ Mr. ShoreMy right hon. Friend has received no complaints of this kind. They would appear to be for the purchasers to take up with the dealers.
§ Mr. HazellI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but is he aware that the fact remains that the Norfolk county branch of the National Farmers' Union has made many complaints about faulty equipment? If the Minister would look at this matter again, with a view to writing to manufacturers, it might mean satisfaction.
§ Mr. ShoreIf my hon. Friend has particular examples that he would like to put before me I would be most anxious to consider them, but we understand that there is very good liaison between the National Farmers' Union and the Agricultural Engineers' Association, and that complaints are normally tackled through the Association and dealt with fairly expeditiously. There is also a countrywide network of dealers handling repairs and replacements in the industry.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWhen the Minister considers this matter, will he take into account the fact that British tractor manufacturers have the best export record of any country in the world? Does he not consider this irresponsible Question unhelpful to Government policy?
§ Mr. ShoreI agree that the Agricultural Engineers' Association, the contractors, and so on, have a most splendid record, and one that I wish many other industries would emulate, but it is obviously perfectly legitimate for my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Hazell) to raise a particular matter without casting any aspersions upon the performance of the industry as a whole.