§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Technology why the export of commercial vehicles fell from 179,404 in 1964 to 149,855 in 1968; and what steps he has taken or intends to take to arrest this decline and increase exports of commercial vehicles.
§ Mr. FowlerThe fall in production for export was attributable largely to increasing competition from overseas manufacturers and to production losses caused by industrial disputes in 1967. The decline was arrested during 1968, when there was an increase of 7.5 per cent. over 1967. The first quarter of 1969 was an all time record for any quarter—some 32 per cent. above the corresponding period of 1968, and nearly 12 per cent. above the first quarter of 1964, after making adjustments for the difference in the number of weeks covered. No further action is called for at present.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Technology why the export of wheeled tractors declined from 160,005 in 1964 to 130,089 in 1968; and what steps he has taken or intends taking to arrest this decline and increase exports of wheeled tractors.
§ Mr. FowlerThis decline in numbers is misleading. Tractors are now larger and more expensive and some are now assembled overseas. The value of deliveries for all wheeled tractor exports has increased from £102 million in 1964 to some £108 million in 1968, at constant prices. At a time when world tractor exports were declining this is no mean achievement and I am sure that United Kingdom tractor manufacturers will not relax their efforts.
§ Mr Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he will publish the figures for January to March, 1964 for the production of commercial vehicles for the home market and for export, respectively;
(2) whether he will publish the figures for the period of January to March, 1964, for the production of cars for the home market and for export, respectively.
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§ Mr. FowlerStatistics of production in calendar months are not available. The numbers of cars and commercial vehicles
Cars Commercial Vehicles For home market For export Total For home market For export Total 29th Dec, 1963—1st Feb., 1964 … 110,771 74,578 185,349 29,057 17,502 46,559 2nd Feb., 1964—29th Feb., 1964 … 94,344 60,071 154,415 21,420 14,322 35,742 1st March, 1964—4th April, 1964 108,273 70,096 178,369 25,834 15,499 41,333
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Technology whether he will publish figures for January to March, 1964, for the production of wheeled tractors for the home market and for export, respectively.
§ Mr. FowlerStatistics of production are not availble. The numbers of wheeled tractors delivered by United Kingdom manufacturers were:—
Calendar months For home market For export Total January 4,314 18,668 22,982 February 4,205 16,364 20,569 March 5,345 14,874 20,219