HC Deb 07 May 1919 vol 115 cc917-8
87. Sir F. HALL

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of articles for the export of which permits are required and the number for which permits are not required, the total number of permits applied for and the total number granted since the Armistice, and the conditions attaching to the issue of such permits; and if, in view of the serious extent to which British trade is being forestalled and prejudiced as regards foreign markets by the great difficulty placed in the way of renewing export business now that peace has come, he will take an early opportunity of making a statement to the House on this vital question?

Sir A. GEDDES

Export licences are at present required for the following articles: Arms and munitions, the more important foodstuffs, cattle-feeding stuffs, fertilisers, about a dozen raw materials, and a few scarce drugs and chemicals. The total number of applications for licences made since the Armistice is 250,188. The total number of licences issued is 258,081, the excess over the number of applications being due to many licences having been issued in respect of applications received before the Armistice. The size of the figure of licences applied for and granted is accounted for by the large number of articles for which a licence was required at the time of the Armistice. This number has since been drastically reduced. The only licences to the issue of which conditions are commonly attached are those permitting export to Scandinavia, Holland, Switzerland and Finland, in which cases consignment must be made to certain specified bodies in those countries. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government have constantly in view the removal of restrictions on the export, trade, and the principles on which they are acting have been explained in recent Debates in the House.

Sir F. HALL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that permits for the exportation of goods such as groceries to France have been held up for a long time, which means that our merchants have lost the trade, and will he take such steps as he can to facilitate those operations?

Sir A. GEDDES

I would remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that many groceries are foodstuffs.

Captain W. BENN

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us the number of permits which have not been used because they arrived too late to be of any use to the exporter?

Sir A. GEDDES

There is no information on that point available.