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MTTA: A louder voice?
May 2001
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Like manufacturing, agriculture has had its difficulties over the past few decades, and the two sectors clearly recognise each other as allies in adversity - collaborating for example on last year's 'Rebalancing the Economy' initiative. Both have been undervalued by successive governments; but we probably get the governments we deserve - which rather than leading or serving, drift towards reinforcing the established culture, just to appeal to the electorate (ie us).
It's been going on a long time, and it's why we've got a service-orientated culture which has forgotten that agriculture and manufacturing are the foundations of its existence.
So - there's sympathy for the farmers, indeed everyone affected by 'foot and mouth'. However, it's difficult enough at the best of times for manufacturing to grab the eyes, ears, hearts, minds - or any other bits - of politicians. And this ought to be the best of times, with MPs seeking to embed themselves at Westminster for another term: the best time for the machine tool sector in general to campaign for taxation which favours investment in equipment and R& D; and perhaps for exporters to highlight government inertia over export licenses, which is losing orders for UK companies. Even more than usual, their voices may now be stifled by the clamour from others claiming special treatment.
All the more disappointing then, that when the manufacturing lobby really needs to turn up the volume switch to eleven, the MTTA has apparently been left out of the new EEF-led industrial alliance. The rationale for this alliance is 'the whole is greater than the sum of the parts'. MTTA may be smaller than the other parts - SBAC, UK Steel, Chemical Industries Association and Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; but it could have made a big difference to the sum. Its focused approach to real issues like skills and training, the role of technology, and not least the needs of SMEs, should have ensured a place in the lineup.
Most people can grasp the simpler economic issues; eg farmers are paid to produce food, which we consume or export. Could it be that the machine tools argument - embracing the function of importers, and the unseen influence of machine tools in getting products to market - is too complex even for other trade associations to understand?
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