HC Deb 20 January 1993 vol 217 c310W
30. Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to increase Government support to the machine tool industry.

Mr. Sainsbury

I have met representatives of the machine tool industry twice in recent months. From this and other significant contact, the Government are well aware of the difficulties the industry is currently facing.

Machine tool companies, along with those from other sectors, are and will continue to be eligible for a full range of Government assistance such as for exports and research and development. I also hope that demand for the industry's products may benefit from the temporary increase of capital allowance to 40 per cent. announced in the autumn statement.