HC Deb 21 May 1969 vol 784 cc427-8
34. Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Minister of Technology what is now the current rate of production per month of motor vehicles and passenger cars, respectively; and how this figure compares with the average to date this year, and the average monthly production last year.

Mr. Fowler

No information about the current rates of production is available. The average rate of car production in the 13 weeks ended 29th March this year was 34,735 a week, compared with 35,966 in the corresponding period of 1968 and 34,922 a week in 1968 as a whole. The corresponding commercial vehicle weekly average rates were 9,265, 8,021 and 7,869.

Mr. Osborn

Has there not been a drastic drop in production, as was suggested by Question No. 19? What now are the prospects for the motor industry? What is the percentage increase in exports necessary due to restrictions resulting from the credit squeeze, fuel tax and purchase tax? What are the trends for the industry in future?

Mr. Fowler

The hon. Member has got it quite wrong; there has not been a dramatic fall in production. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] There has not been a dramatic fall in production; I emphasise this for the benefit of those on the benches opposite who are more interested in prejudice than the facts. The percentage drop in the production of motorcars in March, 1969, over the previous March was almost entirely accounted for by the effect of industrial disputes. As my Answer makes clear, commercial and industrial vehicle production was substantially up over last year.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is it not true that Question No. 19 is in the name of an hon. Member representing a motor manufacturing constituency, the City of Oxford? It says that there was a 25 per cent. drop in production of motorcars. If that figure is inaccurate, will the Parliamentry Secretary tell the House what his figure is, because I believe the figure in Question No. 19 is accurate.

Mr. Fowler

I am delighted to know that the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) is aware that Oxford is a centre of motor manufacturing. [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] That is the answer to the first part of his question. As to the second part, I have already answered that the drop was almost entirely due to industrial disputes.