§ SIR SCOTT ROBERTSON (Bradford, Central)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has any official information showing why, during the last three years, our exports to Australia and to Canada, in spite of Canada's preference to this country, have remained practically stationary; and why, if we put the East Indian trade aside, our exports to all other British possessions show a diminution of more than 6,000,000 sterling, although our exports to foreign countries show an increase of nearly 37,000,000.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe facts are virtually as stated by the hon. Member 927 in his question. The circumstances and prospects of British trade with Australia are at the present moment being investigated on the spot by a Commissioner sent out by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, and steps are being taken to despatch a similar mission to Canada. No doubt the reports of these Commissioners will give the information which the hon. Member seeks. The diminution referred to in the last part of the Question is more than accounted for by the falling off of exports to South Africa.