§ 26. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if his representatives abroad have forwarded concrete instances of markets which we have lost either for the time being or, according to anticipation, permanently as a result of the coal dispute; and, if so, whether he will inform the House in detail of the nature of these trading losses?
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUEL (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I do not think that a detailed statement such as my hon. and gallant Friend desires would serve a useful purpose, since it is impossible to, distinguish at this stage between temporary losses of markets due to the postponement of deliveries or orders and losses which may prove permanent. The reports which have reached me confirm the impression given by the trade statistics that shipments of exports other than those primarily dependent upon fuel supplies have been maintained to a remarkable extent.