12. Captain BENNasked the President of the Board of Trade whether ho was taking any steps to prevent other countries from importing goods from Germany at the present favourable exchange and re-exporting them to this country at a profit?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo action in the direction indicated has been necessary up to the present, because, according to information received by my right hon. Friend, Germany has no great quantity of goods to sell to any buyers at present.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNot in any quantity.
Mr. TERRELLIs it not a fact that there is an enormous profit accruing to the German exporter in being able to send any goods? Is he taking any steps to secure that profit to our own Exchequer instead of allowing it to go to Germany?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe matter is awaiting the decision of Parliament in a Bill, but if my hon. Friend has any specific instances to bring forward I shall be very glad to report them to the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI think I had better have notice of that.
§ Mr. HOGGEWhen my hon. Friend gives an answer it is based on information, and I ask him to state from whom the information comes.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not quite sure, without consulting my right hon. Friend, whether I can give that answer. If he will put a question down, I will inquire.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat should be addressed to the Leader of the House.