HC Deb 27 June 1939 vol 349 c188
20. Mr. Kirby

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether His Majesty's Government have completed arrangements for the proposed £10,000,000 cotton barter scheme with the United States; if so, on what date was such an agreement entered into; has he considered representations from the Liverpool Cotton Association or other cotton trade organisations indicating their disapproval and opposition to such scheme; and what steps he proposes to take to meet the views of those engaged in the trade and allay their anxiety as to the damaging effect such a scheme would have upon the trade?

Mr. Stanley

As regards the first and second parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper No. 6048. The answer to the third part is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the Government have, in negotiating the Agreement, done everything possible to meet the views of those engaged in the cotton trade and to minimise interference with the ordinary processes of trade.

Mr. Kirby

Can the right hon. Gentleman say on what date the agreement to which he refers is likely to come into force; where will the classification for grades of this cotton take place and who will undertake the work of classification on behalf of His Majesty's Government; and whether the House will be given an opportunity of discussing this barter scheme and dividing on it?

Mr. Stanley

The last part of the question ought to be addressed not to me, but to the Leader of the House. No specific date has been put into the agreement as the moment at which these transactions are to take place. That will be for agreement between the two Governments.