§ 22. Mr. W. J. BROWNasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total sum of money represented 875 by applications under the Export Credit Facilities Act in respect of goods proposed to be exported to Russia which have been rejected because the period of guarantee asked for exceeded 12 months?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)No statistics are available in regard to the amount of business rejected under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSWill the hon. Member tell us whether the amount is considerable or not?
§ Mr. BROWNAs this information is not in the Department, will the hon. Member take steps to get it?
§ Mr. GILLETTI may explain that I answered a question on this point more fully on 10th March and explained the reasons why any figures would be valueless.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I have a reply to my question as to whether the amount is considerable?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe answer I have just given applies to that point.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELIs it not the case that the accepted business, £738,000, shows that the amount of business coming forward is only a dribble?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe hon. Member knows that many applications are made, some of which may apply to the same piece of work, and therefore we cannot attach any importance to the nominal figures we have.
§ Mr. BROWNIs it not possible to distinguish between applications of that kind and tell us the sum of money involved in the applications which have been rejected? If it is possible to tell us how much has been granted, is it not possible to tell us how much has been rejected?
§ Mr. GILLETTBecause to give these figures would be to give an entirely wrong impression to the House.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs it not the case that the amount of business coming forward which has been rejected is really not worth having?
§ Mr. GILLETTI cannot agree with the hon. Member.
§ 23. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the total value of imports from the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics in 1929 and the total value of exports to that country, distinguishing between British manufactures and re-exports?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. W. R. Smith)The hon. and gallant Member will find the figures for which he asks in the answer which was given to the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon (Major Glyn) on the 11th February last, and of which I am sending him a copy.