§ 17. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek powers to enable him to prevent the importation into this country of goods, minerals, etc., which represent uneconomic competition?
§ Mr. StanleyAs I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 22nd November, last, our tariff system is designed to safeguard British trade in the home market against excessive competition of any kind. I have no reason to think it is inadequate for that purpose.
§ 18. Mr. Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to seek powers to enable him to take action to organise the export trades of each industry and to adopt a policy of reciprocal trading agreements and to take steps to set up industrial pools where required; and what further action does he propose to take to enable the export trades to meet the situation that has arisen since 1935, and to protect the home market from the effects of the same policy?
§ Mr. StanleyI have urged the export industries to consider the desirability in each industry of organising themselves to deal with the problem of international competition by means of agreements between the industries in the competing countries, and I am ready to do what I can to assist in any case where my help may be needed. For this purpose no question of compulsory powers need arise. With regard to the second part of the question I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave the hon. Member on 22nd November last.
§ Mr. SmithDoes the right hon. Gentleman approve of this proposed meeting between the Federation of British Industries and German industrialists?
§ Mr. StanleyYes, Sir, it meets with our approval, and I think that the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Mines has given with regard to the coal industry shows that it is possible to reach agreements on matters of this kind.
§ Mr. SmithI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.