HC Deb 04 May 1937 vol 323 cc942-3
9. Captain Alan Graham

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that during the financial year 1936 to 1937 the Kingdom of Greece bought over £1,000,000 worth of goods from Great Britain in excess of British purchases from Greece; that the amount of goods purchased by Greece from Great Britain showed a marked increase on the amount purchased in the previous year; and whether His Majesty's Government will do all in their power to increase our trade with Greece by encouraging the purchase of Greek tobacco, thus lessening the present German control over that staple export and the reciprocal imports into Greece?

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Runciman)

I am aware of the position of trade between this country and Greece, and of the difficulties in the way of United Kingdom export trade to Greece. I am always ready to do what is possible to assist the development of trade, but the question of the purchase of Greek tobacco is one for the trading interests—and the smokers—concerned.