§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate and make a statement on the circumstances which have led to Herbert Ingersoll Limited being put in the hands 400W of a receiver; and if he will take steps designed to mitigate the effects of this development on the machine tool industry.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe problems facing Herbert Ingersoll Limited were fully investigated by my Department. The company's difficulties have arisen from the general decline in orders which has adversely affected all machine tool firms. To provide immediate assistance for the industry as a whole the Government has brought forward orders to the value of £16 million.