§ 2.45 p.m.
§ LORD SAVILEMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the question which stands to my name in the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, (a) What is the total estimated monthly production of combine drills, ploughs, binders, sugar beet lifters; (b) What steps are His Majesty's Government taking to increase the manufacture of spare parts in this country?]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (THE EARL OF HUNTINGDON)My Lords, the monthly averages of the total production programmes for the year October 1, 1946, to September 30, 1947, are as follows: combined corn and fertilizer drills, 100; tractor -ploughs, 5,000; sugar beet and root lifters, 175. Production difficulties may prevent the full programmes from being completed, but it is not possible to say how far they may fall short. The production of binders is confined almost entirely to one firm, and it is regretted that the information could not be given without revealing the firm's business.
As regards the second part of the question I am not aware of any general shortage of spare parts for machines made in this country, though temporary and local shortages of individual parts may sometimes occur. In general, British manufacturers seem to be fully alive to the need for an adequate supply of spares, and realize that these should be a first charge on capacity and materials. Their attention has been called to the point again recently. The main shortages have been of spare parts for machines of 869 American make. It has been possible to arrange for some of these to be made in this country, but the range of individual spares runs into many thousands, and there are serious difficulties about producing some of them here. The best hope lies, therefore, in increasing supplies from the makers of the machines, and I am glad to say that the position in this respect is showing some signs of improvement.
§ LORD SAVILEI thank the noble Earl for his reply. It was encouraging, at any rate, to hear his final remarks. I hope that priority for any of these tools and spare parts which do become available will be given to farmers and not to export. I would like to ask one supplementary question about binders being manufactured by one firm only. I do not in the least want to press the noble Earl for information about the activities of this one firm which manufacture them, but I think it is extremely unsatisfactory that binders are not produced by more than one firm. Is there any hope in the future that more firms will manufacture binders?
§ THE EARL OF HUNTINGDONI am afraid that that is a question I cannot answer. If there is a demand I presume the firms will produce them. It is a matter for the firms themselves.