§ 50. Mr. MABANEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that in several instances goods ordered by Danish importers from Huddersfield manufacturers have been cancelled on the ground that the Danish authorities refuse to give import licences; that, in many cases, the goods cancelled are made ready for shipment, and that, as these goods are in no ease luxury goods, the cancellations are in conflict with declarations by the Danish Prime Minister; and whether the Government will take immediate action to prevent this hardship to Huddersfield manufacturers?
§ Mr. JOHN COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am aware of these complaints. A licence has to be secured before goods can be imported, and the total importations allowed to any individual Danish importer are at present limited. When orders have been placed by any such importer without securing the necessary permit, delivery may have to be deferred. As announced it) the Press today, the Danish Government are hoping to be in a position to relax or abolish these restrictions at the end of August.
§ Mr. MABANEDoes it not appear that many of these cancellations are in conflict with the declaration of the Danish Government, and that therefore the Danish importers are taking an unfair advantage of the situation in Denmark by cancelling orders which they do not want delivered?
§ Mr. COLVILLEI have no evidence of that, but if my hon. Friend has, I shall be glad if he will give it to me, and I will look closely into it.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSHas my hon. Friend any evidence of discrimination of this kind, and, if so, will he draw the attention of the Danish Government to a certain Section in the Import Duties Act?
§ Mr. COLVILLEWe have had no evidence of such discrimination, and we should not hesitate to do so if we had.
§ Mr. CHORLTONCan my hon. Friend say if we are going to take any action ourselves to check this sort of action?
§ Mr. COLVILLEThe position has been explained before, and as has been pointed out, the serious depreciation in the value of Danish currency would have a bad effect on British trade, and these regulations are designed to prevent that, but the Danish Government have been left in no doubt of our views as to the desirability of easing the position as soon as possible.
§ 52. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the measures adopted by the Danish Government to prevent importers of British goods in that country purchasing foreign exchange so that British exporters are practically prevented from sending goods to Denmark, he will consider taking steps to impose a special tariff upon Danish imports with a view to the equalisation of the balance of trade between the two countries?
§ Mr. COLVILLENo, Sir. The position regarding the temporary import and exchange control instituted in Denmark has already been explained in answer to previous questions. There is no evidence of discrimination against United Kingdom exports.
§ 53. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the President of the Board of Trade the balance of trade favourable to Denmark 1256 in the exchange of commodities between that country and Great Britain in the year 1931?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Hore-Belisha)The total declared value of merchandise imported into the United Kingdom during 1931 consigned from Denmark was £46,697,000, valued c.i.f., while the total exports (including re-exports) consigned to Denmark amounted to £9,190,000, valued f.o.b. The excess of imports over exports was, therefore, £37,507,000.