HC Deb 15 June 1933 vol 279 cc314-5
44. Lieut. Colonel Sir MERVYN MANNINGHAM-BULLER

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the difficulty experienced by firms desirous of importing United Kingdom footwear into Czechoslovakia in obtaining the necessary import licences; and whether, in view of the fact that about 125,000 pairs of foot wear, valued at about £26,000, entered the United Kingdom during the first three months of this year, His Majesty's Government will take vigorous action to induce the Czechoslovakian Government to issue licences for an adequate quantity of footwear from this country?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

The importation of many kinds of goods into Czechoslovakia is subject to exchange licences, which it is understood are granted without any definite quota limits in the case of certain goods, including footwear, provided that the proposed importation is associated with a compensating export transaction. This arrangement in itself does not appear to involve discrimination against the United Kingdom export trade.