§ 62. Mr. Hoggasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps have been taken in 1944 to promote British trade with South America.
§ Mr. JohnstoneMy hon. Friend will appreciate that, with the demands of the war still heavy upon us, there is little scope for the promotion of current export trade with South America. The work of preparing for the post-war period is, however, being actively pursued.
§ Mr. HoggWould my right hon. Friend let the House know what the active pursuance of future trade in South America after the war consists in? What is, in fact, being done?
§ Mr. KeelingCould my right hon. Friend explain the difference between active pursuit and any other kind of pursuit?
§ Mr. JohnstoneActive pursuit is more active than inactive pursuit.
§ Mr. Granville rose——
§ Mr. SpeakerThere is a supplementary question to be answered.
§ Mr. GranvilleOn a point of Order. Is it in Order for an hon. Member to put a Question on the Paper in order to secure the attendance of a Minister, so that he may be given the welcome that the right hon. Gentleman has been given to-day?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a question of Order. As far as I am concerned, I know nothing of the intentions of Members in putting Questions on the Paper. There is a supplementary to be answered.
§ Mr. JohnstoneIn reply to the supplementary of my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Hogg), to detail the whole of the steps that are being taken to develop trade with South America would involve not an answer to a question, but a Debate of a day or two.
§ Mr. GranvilleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that exporters depend entirely on getting pre-war statistics of export trade; and can he give an assurance that if these figures are not available in his Department, he will see that his staff is sufficiently augmented to enable them to be computed and made available?
§ Mr. JohnstoneThe pre-war figures are available.