Frustrated Exports (Hansard, 15 July 1948)

§ 28. Mr. Shepherd
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of frustrated exports to the nearest available date.

§ Mr. H. Wilson
I regret that figures are not available.

§ Mr. Shepherd
In view of the rumours which circulate as to the volume of these exports, would it not be desirable for the Board of Trade to make a statement of their actual and possible extent?

§ Mr. Wilson
It is impossible to give figures on this matter, but, as the hon. Member knows, individual cases of frustration of exports where goods cannot be sold after a genuine attempt to sell them abroad are now being dealt with by a special advisory body appointed by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce at my request.

§ Mr. Shepherd
Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the value of the goods involved?

§ Mr. Wilson
If the hon. Member puts down a Question, I will endeavour to answer.

§ Mr. Charles Williams
Would it not be very inconvenient to the Government if the figures were given?

§ Mr. Wilson
No, Sir, not at all. The policy of this country and of all hon. Members is to push exports to the greatest possible extent and it would be no embarrassment to anyone if certain exporters were not pushing exports as we would like them to do.

§ Mr. Drayson
Is this due to price or quality, or is it because the countries concerned will not grant import licences?

§ Mr. Wilson
In many cases it is due to the fact that they will not grant import licences, but it is also due to the fact that we have to face high competition in markets abroad.

§ 30. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Advisory Committee on frustrated exports has been set up in co-operation with the Association of British Chambers of Commerce; and whether he has any further statement to make.

§ Mr. H. Wilson
Yes, Sir. The names of the members of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce Advisory Panel on frustrated exports appeared in the Board of Trade Journal of 10th July. I have no further statement to make at this early stage.

§ Lieut.-Colonel Lipton
Can my right hon. Friend say when this Advisory Committee began to operate and whether it has heard any application yet? What is the procedure? Must applications from those who are interested be sent to this Committee or to the Board?

§ Mr. Wilson
Applications sent to the Board of Trade will be automatically referred to this Committee. Full details were published in the Board of Trade Journal last week.

Major Houghton
Will experts be co-opted to this Committee to advise on particular trades?

§ Mr. Wilson
The Association of British Chambers of Commerce consists of experts, but I have no doubt that if technical problems are raised they will seek all the technical assistance needed.

§ Mr. Assheton
Is it experts, or exports, which will be frustrated?

§ Mr. Osborne
Will this Committee consider the effect on our exports to the United States of the boycott by Jewish interests owing to the Palestine position, because I think it is causing a great deal of trouble in regard to exports?

§ Mr. Wilson
The Committee will consider the cases of all exporters who have made a genuine effort to sell goods in all markets open to us and who find it impossible to sell goods but seek to sell them on the home market.

§ Mr. Henry Strauss
Is the Committee composed of frustrated experts?