§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps are being taken to protect the British machine tool industry from unfair foreign competition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CryerIf my hon. Friend has evidence of unfair foreign competition against this industry I should be grateful if he would send it to me. I can assure
October 1976–March 1977 April 1977–September 1977 Number Value (£000) Number Value (£000) Imports of new gear-making machinery from West Germany Gear hobbing 7 325 8 513 Gear cutting and other gear making and finishing 12 141 4 16 TOTAL 19 466 12 529 United Kingdom sales of gear making and finishing machines TOTAL 110 2,537 N/A N/A of which: Exports 32 547 Sales to home market 78 1,990
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is aware of the Swedish Machines Tool Company installing numerically controlled lathes in Rolls-Royce, Glasgow, free of charge for a 552W him it will receive careful attention, and the Government will consider taking whatever action is possible consistent with our international obligations.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he has taken to assist and advise the machine tool industry, in view of the rate of unemployment.
§ Mr. CryerOfficials of my Department are available to give advice through the industrial strategy sector working party and in discussions with the trade association and individual companies. Through the machine tool industry scheme my Department is providing financial assistance to a large number of companies in the industry to help them to improve their manufacturing facilities and to develop new products. The industry is also eligible for the normal range of Government incentives and assistance, including temporary employment subsidy.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Industry how many hobbing machines have been imported from Germany into Great Britain during the last six months; at what cost; and how this compares with sales of British manufactured machines.
§ Mr. CryerUnited Kingdom sales figures for so specific a machine type as gear hobbing are not separately collected. The table below shows the most recently available, broadly comparable, statistics for imports from West Germany and sales by United Kingdom machine tool manufacturers:
period of three months; and if he will institute an inquiry into this practice under anti-dumping legislation.
§ Mr. Les HuckfieldThe first part of the Question is a matter for the NEB. 553W On the second part of the Question, if the British industry has evidence that goods are being dumped on the United Kingdom market and that this is causing material injury, the Department of Trade will be pleased to receive details from the industry and to assist it with the preparation of a complaint to the European Commission.