§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his intentions in connection with the encouragement of the manufacture of advanced machine tools and machine tool systems, with special reference to the collapse of Herbert-Ingersoll Limited, and the resultant effect on the ability of the British machine tool industry to supply such tools and systems.
§ Mr. ChatawayMy Department is prepared to support proposals for the design and manufacture of advanced machine tools and machine tool systems in appropriate cases by the placing of research and development contracts and by the preproduction order schemes.