HC Deb 05 June 1972 vol 838 cc8-9
11. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research has been undertaken into the likely effects on the machine tool industry of increased expenditure by public bodies under his recently announced scheme.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The £9–10 million scheme for additional Government purchases of machine tools was based on an evaluation of the difficulties facing the industry by the Machine Tool Economic Development Council.

Mr. Huckfield

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a tremendous amount of concern among workers in the industry about how much of this money they will get? Since I have already been told in countless answers that the Department cannot differentiate between money spent on British machine tools and that spent on foreign machine tools, may I be told how we can be certain that any of this money will be spent on British machine tools?

Mr. Grant

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's point, but he must understand, and I think he does understand, that we are bound by international trading agreements. In this respect there is no difference between the present Administration and the previous Administration in what has been done in abiding by these agreements. But, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State estimated earlier, only a very small proportion would be imported machines. This is borne out by a survey undertaken two years ago which showed that purchasing by universities and technical institutions amounted to no more than 3 per cent.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

Is my hon. Friend aware that machine tool manufacturers in my constituency have found a considerable reluctance on the part of education authorities to purchase other than very small machines, which are not suitable for industrial training? Will he have words with the Department of Education and Science and ask them to urge the spending institutions to recognise the case for the purchase of machine tools of adequate size and scope?

Mr. Grant

I appreciate what my hon. Friend says, although I do not necessarily confirm that that is the situation. I will discuss it with the Department concerned.

Mr. Kaufman

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the workers of Churchill Machine Tools at Altrincham have completely given up hope that that establishment will be saved by the Government and have resigned themselves to redundancies? Therefore, will he now say flatly whether the Government will save Churchill Machine Tools before it is too late?

Mr. Grant

That does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper, but if the hon. Gentleman cares to put a Question down on this matter, I will do my best to answer it.