§ 9. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the action of the French and Italian Governments in abolishing certain quotas on imports has proved of any substantial value to British exporters; and what effect this abolition has had up to date on the balance of trade between Great Britain, France, and Italy, respectively?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have no information that Italy has withdrawn any of her import quotas. As regards France, certain quota restrictions were suspended by a decree published on 3rd October. United Kingdom exports of the classes of goods covered by the quotas now suspended were worth approximately £350,000 in 1934, whereas exports from the United Kingdom of all goods subject to quotas were worth about £10,000,000 in that year. Coal accounted for about £7,000,000 of this amount. I understand that the quotas suspended were mostly quotas which we had not been able to fill. No statistics are available yet to show what may have been the effect on United Kingdom trade.
§ Captain MACDONALDIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that these quotas have in fact been removed against British exports to France?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANOnly to the extent which I have stated in answer to the question.