§ 42. Sir Joseph Leechasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the fact that for every 20s. worth of goods we have bought of Finland they have bought only 10s. worth of us during 1937, he will state what he is doing to bring to the notice of firms on the North-east and East Coast the openings in Finland for the sale of British manufactured goods; and whether his officers are visiting for that purpose British firms who produce goods suitable for Finland?
Mr. HudsonIt is part of the normal duties of my Department to bring to the notice of United Kingdom firms openings for the sale of manufactured goods in overseas markets, including Finland, and I myself recently visited Newcastle for the purposes of discussing new trade openings with representatives of the chamber of commerce and of local commerce and industry, and of explaining the facilities offered to exporters by His Majesty's Government. Following on this an officer of the Export Credits Guarantee Department made a special visit to Newcastle to explain the facilities offered by that Department. If my hon. Friend has received any specific inquiries on trade with Finland, I should be grateful if he would communicate them to me.