§ 21. Mr. CHORLTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the increased purchases from this country arising out of the agreement with Denmark, a percentage considerably greater than the other Scandinavian countries, he will consider sending a special trade delegation from this country, including a, representative of the workers, to those countries, in order to ascertain what increased interchange of goods can be brought about?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know on what basis my hon. Friend calculates that the percentage increase in our export trade to Denmark, arising out of the agreement with that country, is greater than in the case of the other Scandinavian countries. I can, however, assure him that the effect of the agreements with all these countries is being carefully watched, and I do not think that in existing circumstances any useful purpose would be served by sending a special trade delegation.
§ Mr. CHORLTONAs there is still a very great balance of trade to be made up by possible increases of purchases from Scandinavian countries, will the right hon. Gentleman not send a special trade delegation?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANWe are doing everything we can to increase the number of orders coming into this country, and I believe that this is going ahead in the right direction.
Vice-Admiral TAYLORIs it not a fact that the increased imports of foodstuffs from Denmark are detrimental to an increase in the imports of foodstuffs from our Dominions, who are good customers of ours?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not agree with the hon. and gallant Member. There is no doubt room for both of these supplies in this consuming market.
§ Mr. LOFTUSIs it not a fact that the increased purchases by Denmark are largely due to the flotation of the Danish loan in this country; in other words, that the goods are largely exported on credit?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should not care to answer that question without notice.