§ 18. Mr. Geoffrey Cooperasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent the export trade of this country being injured due to the practice of a number of shipping companies handling cases of goods for export packed in fibre boarding, automatically endorsing them on the bill of lading as being insufficiently packed, since it is giving overseas buyers an excuse to refuse acceptance of the bills and goods and is resulting in claims against the Export Credit Guarantees Department.
Mr. H. WilsonThis matter has been the subject of negotiation between the 668 Government Departments concerned and the shipping lines and, as a result, several shipping companies have agreed to accept suitable fibreboard outer packing for a wide range of goods, without automatically endorsing the bills of lading. I am not aware that the practice to which my hon. Friend refers has resulted in claims being made against the Export Credits Guarantee Department, none of whose policies includes cover for losses so incurred. If, however, my hon. Friend will give me details of any specific case where difficulty has arisen, I will look into the matter.
§ Mr. CooperDoes my right hon. Friend realise that with the present buyers' market and the tendency for world prices to fall, some foreign importers are using every excuse not to accept British goods and documents? If I send him details of some cases will he circularise the shipping companies and forwarding agents in order to prevent further difficulties?