Bulk of Output to be Exported
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THE quota of commercial vehicles allocated by the Government this year to the home market implies that about. 70 per cent. of the industry's output must be exported.
In January, 53 per cent. of British production was shipped overseas, and last month 51 per cent.
Mr. R. Gresham Cooke. director of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who made this statement in London last week, confirmed that the total of vehicles to be allocated to British users this year was 81,550. Of these 72,750 would be goods vehicles and 8,000 public service vehicles.
Condemning the Government's decision to reduce by 27 per cent, the quota of vehicles for the home market, Mr. F. 1. Connolly, president of the S M.M.T., pointed out that there were over 425,000 orders on hand for home delivery. The average age of goods vehicles was, he said, now 13i years, :ompared with seven years before the
war. Passenger vehicles were even older.
A statement by the S.M.M.T. on the position of the home market in commercial vehicles is published on page 239.
Replying to this statement, Mr. G. R. Strauss, Minister of Supply, denied that a 27 per cent. cut was being made in the number of commercial vehicles allocated to the home market. The reduction was, he said, on the industry's total output. Towards the end of last year, vehicles were being built for home users at the annual rate of 113,000, although the year's quota. had been fixed at 81,500.
Returns for January and February this year showed that manufacturers were observing the programme laid down by the Government. Exports had greatly increased and if present progress were maintained, supplies to the home market could be reduced without lowering total production