§ 45. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister for Economic Affairs whether the Economic Planning Board has now given consideration to the problem involved by the fact that certain types of plant and equipment required by the tin-producing industry of Malaya are also required for home production and for export outside the Empire; and what decision has been reached regarding this problem, having regard to the dollar-earning capacity of the Malayan tin-mining industry.
§ Mr. MarquandI have been asked to reply. I am aware that a certain amount of delay in the production of tin-mining plant and equipment is due to competition with other urgent and essential demands 41W for plant and machinery of a similar kind. It would not be desirable to give special priority to the needs of one of many dollar earning or dollar saving industries. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply regarding the assistance already being given to the Malayan industry in this matter.