Mining Equipment (Hansard, 20 January 1993)

§ 7. Mr. Hinchliffe
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy on the mining engineering sector.

§ Mr. Eggar
Our policy, as for all other sectors of industry, is to help United Kingdom companies to compete successfully at home and abroad.
We are working closely with the industry to give our suppliers every proper assistance.

§ Mr. Hinchliffe
As the Minister will recall, I have already expressed my concern about the implications of Government policy on the coal industry for the export efforts of the British mining engineering sector. Is he aware that the British Jeffrey Diamond Company in my constituency has developed an award-winning leading edge technology in switched reluctance variable speed drives? [Laughter.] That is what it says here. Is the Minister aware that there is major export potential, but that the company and the industry as a whole are concerned that Government policies for coal are destroying the future potential of such products, which can earn for Britain, because our shop window to show these products is being destroyed with the British coal industry?

§ Mr. Eggar
May I be the first to congratulate the hon. Gentleman on reading his hand? I am aware of the importance of the British coal industry to the British mining equipment industry and I understand the difficulties to which he drew attention. It is right to point out that the mining equipment industry has been a successful exporter which runs a positive balance of trade surplus. We are working hard to help it to promote exports in areas such as China.

§ Mr. Gallie
Is my hon. Friend aware of a company called Wallacetown Engineering in my constituency which specialises in electrical mining equipment? It currently has representatives in China seeking new business in view of the difficulties in the coal industry. There are encouraging messages, but may I have an assurance that the Department of Trade and Industry will do all in its power to encourage and help companies such as Wallacetown Engineering?

§ Mr. Eggar
It was precisely to help such companies that I went to China, and for precisely that reason that we are seeking to reach an agreement between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and Chinese banks to facilitate coal equipment exports.