§ 58. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which industries are to have their export target figures reduced; when the new targets will be announced; to what extent the old targets were decided upon without previous consultation with the trades affected; and whether he has consulted them before fixing the new targets.
§ Sir S. CrippsDespite the cuts in the Investment Programme, steel supplies, for the first half of next year, are likely to be insufficient to meet in full some home and export programmes. There will, therefore, have to be a revision of some production programmes and export targets in the steel consuming industries. Revised targets will be worked out as soon as possible in consultation with the industries affected. As regards consultation before the present export targets were announced in September, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a Question on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for Bucklow (Mr. Shepherd) on 20th November.