Mr. Robertsonasked the Minister of Works if the production of electrical fitments is adequate to meet the demands of the home market, particularly the building industry; and what proportion of electrical fitments for houses is being exported.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe production of electrical fitments is in general adequate for the demands of priority building, which includes all new housing and other essential work. It can, however, meet only a proportion of the remaining requirements. No licence is required to export these goods, so that detailed figures of exports are not available, but it is estimated that 17 per cent. of production of electric lighting appliances, accessories and fittings and 11 per cent. of production of electrical cooking and heating apparatus are at present being exported. These percentages mainly result from substantial exports of particular items which are not in short supply.