In message , at
11:27:47 on Sun, 13 Nov 2016, Arthur Figgis
remarked:

What's the ratio for consumer items, in other words exclude the things
sold to industry like aircraft engines.

Why exclude aircraft engines?

Aren't aircraft engines always a problem in these discussions, because
they undermine the belief that the UK doesn't make anything, doesn't
export anything and has no engineering capabilities, which is all the
fault of [Brussels/capitalists/socialists/Thatcher/yoof/immigrant
single mothers/etc]. It is easier to ignore them, and/or think the
company makes niche luxury cars instead.

It's all to do with the war (don't mention that to the Germans).

The government wanted a supplier for the new-fangled jet engines and
approached their preferred supplier at the time, which was Rover. Who
blinked, and a deal was done for Rolls Royce to take the lead in aero
engines and Rover (later spun off as Land rover) in ground transport.
--
Roland Perry