HC Deb 14 November 1939 vol 353 c537
54. Mr. Liddall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for his economic advisers to set up a coordinating committee of representatives from various Government Departments concerned with export trade, as absence of a continuously informative contact between those Departments is, for that single reason, holding up existing export trade and preventing the making of war time adjustments, designed by traders, to increase our exports?

Sir J. Simon

I can assure my hon. Friend that there is no group of subjects which is more closely engaging the attention of all concerned and that full liaison is maintained between the various Departments. I would add that a special section of the Department of Overseas Trade has been established to enable exporters to obtain, so far as possible, through one channel, advice and information on the problems which arise under war conditions and which may be the concern of a number of Departments.

Mr. Shinwell

As Chairman of this Economic Coordinating Committee, is the right hon. Gentleman able to devote much time to it?

Sir J. Simon

Yes, Sir.