§ Mr. FORRESTasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the quantity of machine-made tools now in this country under orders placed during the War for disposal as soon as the state of the market permits; whether much of it has come from America and not yet been unpacked; and whether he can give the estimated aggregate value of the machine tools held anywhere to the account of the Government?
Mr. YOUNGI have been asked to answer this question. I regret that it is not possible to state the number or aggregate value of the machine tools which the Disposal and Liquidation Commission have for disposal. A large number of American tools were of necessity imported during the War, a small proportion of which still remain unpacked.
§ Mr. FORRESTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Disposal Board is now selling machinery, especially machine tools, a great deal of which is new, at a less price than they could get for it if it were broken up for scrap iron; whether this policy is disastrous to the machine tool-making industry, since it will perpetuate unemployment; and whether, in the circumstances, he will instruct the Disposal Board to suspend further sales for the moment?
Mr. YOUNGI have been asked to reply. The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. WATERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of machine tools now in his possession and the approximate income from sale of same; whether he is aware of the 625W depression in the engineering trade; and, if so, is he prepared to advise the holding up of the sales of such stocks, as there is no likely loss involved, with a view to relieving unemployment by allowing firms an opportunity to produce for the market which would inevitably open if Government stocks were held back for some time to come?
Mr. YOUNGFor an estimate of the value of machine tools in the hands of the Disposal Board I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to-day to the hon. Member for Pontefract (Mr. Forrest). I am making inquiries regarding the approximate income from the sale of such stocks, and will communicate shortly with my hon. Friend. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer to my answer on the 25th October to the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook).
§ Lieut.-Colonel HURSTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether the Victoria Works of Kendal and Gent (1920), Limited, Gorton, Manchester, have largely closed down in consequence of their inability to compete with the low prices charged by the Government for their surplus stocks of machine tools; and whether he can hold up the sales of such surplus stocks pending a revival in the trade, in order to safeguard employment in the machine-tool industry?
Mr. YOUNGI regret that I have no information regarding the firm referred to in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook) on the 25th October.