§ 62. Sir H. CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of exports 406 and imports during the last completed 12 months for which information is available between Great Britain and Australia and Great Britain and the Argentine, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe total declared value of merchandise imported into the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended March, 1936, and consigned from Australia was £56,138,000 and of exports to Australia £30,415,000, including re-exports valued at £715,000. The corresponding figures of United Kingdom trade with the Argentine Republic are £43,680,000 for imports and £15,891,000 for exports, including re-exports valued at £314,000.
§ Sir H. CROFTSince these figures indicate that the trade with Australia is more important than the trade with the Argentine, will my right hon. Friend take that matter into consideration in the decision he is about to make; and will he inform the House whether the invisible trade with Australia is not also more valuable than that with the Argentine?
§ Sir EDMUND FINDLAYCan we have an assurance from the President of the Board of Trade that the interests of the agricultural community are regarded as far more important than the financial and vested interests of London?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe have throughout these negotiations borne in mind the relative importance of the various industries.