HC Deb 29 January 1969 vol 776 cc326-7W
47. Mr. Howie

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made of the capacity of the machine tool industry to achieve short-delivery periods in face of the expected rise in orders in 1969.

Dr. Bray

The Machine Tool E.D.C. estimated in September last that overall the industry was operating at 86 per cent. of capacity in 1968. The E.D.C. is at present reviewing capacity and will report later in the year.

Weak areas are being studied by the Ministry and action, such as the preproduction order scheme, has improved the availability of more advanced machine tools from home industry in a number of areas. It is important that well conceived expansion schemes should go ahead.