§ 26. Mr. Bellengerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he, or any other Minister will visit foreign countries in the near future for the purpose of trade negotiations or the investigation of possibilities of increasing British export trade?
§ Mr. StanleyHis Majesty's Government make constant use of the existing machinery for surveying oversea markets with a view to the creation of new openings for United Kingdom export trade and the widening of existing outlets. As part of this machinery Ministerial tours of foreign countries, whether formal or informal, are undertaken when desirable. No such arrangements are at present under contemplation.
§ Mr. BellengerHas the right hon. Gentleman noted the success which has attended the commercial travels of another trade minister abroad; and does he not, therefore, think that the time has arrived when more energetic action should be taken by his Department to increase the British export trade?
§ Mr. StanleyI hope that the action taken by my Department will not only be energetic but appropriate. I would point out to the hon. Gentleman that the minister to whom he refers, being the minister for commerce in a totalitarian State, is in a rather different position from that of the President of the Board of Trade in this country.