HC Deb 25 April 1939 vol 346 c951
58. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can now make a statement on the progress made in the trade negotiations between his Department and representatives of foreign countries?

Mr. R. S. Hudson (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

I would refer the hon. Member to the very full answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for North Newcastle (Sir N. Grattan-Doyle), and the hon. Member for West Newcastle (Sir J. Leach), and to the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member himself.

Mr. Shinwell

Cannot we have information on the success or non-success of these negotiations, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman make a fuller statement in the form of a White Paper so that we can judge whether these negotiations are worth while?

Mr. Hudson

I said yesterday that I thought the time had not come for a White Paper. Negotiations have yet to take place.