§ 50. Sir G. BUTLERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his attention has been called to the agreement recently concluded between His Majesty's Legation at Budapest and the Hungarian Government for granting import licences for certain types of British goods to enter Hungary; whether his attention has been drawn to a similar agreement concluded by the Italian Legation at Budapest with the Hungarian Government; whether he is aware that the latter agreement affects larger quantities of goods and is wider in scope than the British agreement; and, if so, whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. LUNNI understand that the Italian Government have concluded a formal arrangement with the Hungarian 898 Government as to the quantities of a large number of goods in respect of which import licences are to be issued. His Majesty's Consul-General at Budapest is constantly in communication with the authorities with a view to securing the greatest possible facilities for the importation of British goods. Up to the present, definite contingents have only been promised for a few principal classes. The hon. Member can rest assured that there will be no relaxation in the efforts which have been made hitherto, not without success, to secure advantages for British trade. I hope that the whole vexatious system of import restrictions will not long be maintained.