HC Deb 15 November 1938 vol 341 cc659-60
14. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to develop the new technique that is required to secure for British trade a fair share of the export markets in face of the State-organised and assisted competition of certain European competitors in our export markets?

Mr. Stanley

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the Debate in this House on 1st November, to which I have nothing to add at the present time.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the Minister bear in mind that the statement to which he referred is causing a good deal of speculation, and also the desirability of the Government making a plain statement of policy as soon as possible?

Mr. Shinwell

Will the right hon. Gentleman remember that, although he made reference to new methods being required, he did not indicate specifically what these methods were to be?

Mr. Stanley

I think I indicated very definitely what their object was, and that was, to enable the industries of this country to compete in the export markets as a whole, and not as a number of units.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the constant increase of trade between Germany and South America?

Mr. Stanley

The hon. Gentleman's study of the figures no doubt made him realise that, as a matter of fact, German exports to the world as a whole have decreased considerably during the year.