HC Deb 30 March 1976 vol 908 cc427-8W
Mr. Hoyle

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne on the placing of substantial orders for machine tools in Japan, he is satisfied that as far as practicable.

British expenditure French expenditure Both countries
£ million £ million £ million
Actual costs from 29th November 1962 to 31st December 1975 at the prices and exchange rates prevailing when the costs were incurred 475 476 (5841 MF) 951
Estimated costs from 1st January 1976 to completion of programme at January 1976 prices and at an exchange rate of £1=9.08 francs 89 114 203
Totals 564 590 1,154

The latest estimates of the manufacturers' total production costs to the end of 1978 is £301 million in the United Kingdom and 3,450 million francs in France. This

Britain France
£ million Fr. million
Actual costs to 31st December 1975 at the prices prevailing when the costs were incurred 199 2,010
Estimated costs from 1st January 1976 to completion of programme at January 1976 prices 102 1,440
Totals 301 3,450

British Leyland's purchasing of machine tools can be met from British sources.

Mr. Kaufman

Yes. My hon. Friend may like to know that the report he has sent to my right hon. Friend is inaccurate in several important respects. I am asking the Chief Executive of British Leyland to write to him about it.

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