§ 12. Mr. WELLOCKasked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the shipping which passes through the Suez Canal belongs to each of the countries which chiefly use the canal?
Mr. WILLIAMSIf the hon. Member will allow me, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the information for which he asks.
§ Following is the table:
§ tions for guarantees by the Export Credits Guarantee Department are not at present considered for business with Russia, or for textile business with India and the Far Eastern markets. Whilst suggestions are occasionally made by individual traders that these restrictions should be removed, I have received no representations to that effect from any important sections of British exporters. The answer to the last part of the questions is in the negative. The second part of the hon. Member's question suggests that the scheme is primarily intended to assist foreign traders. That is not the case, and I may add that applications 833 for facilities under the scheme must come from firms in this country, not from firms abroad.
§ Mr. CONNOLLYIs any extension of the scheme contemplated by the Government at the present time?
§ Mr. HACKINGAs the hon. Member knows, the scheme is due to expire, so far as future business is concerned, in September next year, and nothing has been decided as to the suggestion that it should continue.