asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of his official visit to the Midlands on Friday, 25th March.

On 25th March my right hon. Friend visited the factories of Harry Ferguson Limited and the Standard Motor Company at Banner Lane, Coventry. This visit was arranged before any redundancy had been announced at the factory, so that he could discuss at first hand the problems that are arising in various overseas markets in connection with the sale of tractors. My right hon. Friend discussed these problems fully during his visit with representatives of management and of the trade unions; he will bear in mind the interests of the agricultural manufacturing industries in the course of negotiations with the various countries concerned.