HC Deb 19 December 1968 vol 775 cc477-8W
Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of investment grants given to the machine tool industry is used for the purchase of imported goods.

Mr. Dell

This information is not available.

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to exclude imports of foreign machine tools from the scope of his policy of investment grants.

Mr. Dell

No. Investment grants are an important means of encouraging investment in those sectors which can do most to help the balance of payments; and industry must be free to invest in the equipment best suited to its needs wherever it is made.