§ 116. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what 210W principle his Department fixes the percentage increase on the threshing and other agricultural machines made by Messrs. R. G. Garvie & Sons, Aberdeen, details of which have been sent to him; if he will direct that a single principle be applied to all kinds of agricultural machines made by this firm; and, since the application of different principles for different machines causes delay, expense and confusion in the pricing of machines, if he will take immediate steps to have the position simplified
§ Mr. WestwoodThe percentage increases in the prices of farm machinery authorised by me under the provisions of the Farm Machinery (Control of Manufacture and Supply) Orders of 1943 and 1946 have been fixed with regard to the overall increase since 1939 in costs of production. These authorised increases are maximum increases but if any manufacturer of farm machinery, the price of which is still controlled under the 1946 Order, is satisfied that his costs justify an increase greater than those authorised, he may apply for special consideration, supporting his application with a statement of the items in the cost of production in respect of which he considers that his costs have shown abnormal increase. All applications for increase in prices are dealt with on the basis of production costs for individual types of machines and I regret that I am unable to make any exception in the case of the machines manufactured by Messrs. R. S. Garvie & Sons, of Aberdeen.