§ 36. Major Anstruther-Grayasked the President of the Board of Trade to give an estimate of the effect upon British trade of recent Australian decisions to increase import quotas.
§ Mr. MackesonAustralian import quotas are not tied to particular countries, so that it is not possible to make any reliable estimate of the likely value to our trade of the recent relaxations.
§ Major Anstruther-GrayIt is fair to assume, is it not, that there will be considerable benefit to British and Australian trade?
§ Mr. MackesonYes, certainly, but it is difficult to obtain an estimate as those quotas apply not only to this country but to many other countries.
§ Mr. ChapmanIs the Minister making any new representations to Australia on this question? In the motor trade, for example, the Australian cut amounted to about half of their normal imports. Is the Minister aware that that is of vital importance? Are any representations being made?
§ Mr. MackesonConstant discussions take place on this subject, and it was fully covered in the report of the Commonwealth Conference.
§ 39. Mrs. Castleasked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the Australian Government on behalf of the Lancashire cotton industry with regard to the continued severe restrictions on the import of cotton goods into Australia.
§ Mr. MackesonThe difficulties of our textile industries have been stressed in all our discussions with the Commonwealth Government.
§ Mrs. CastleIs the hon. Gentleman satisfied with the value to Lancashire of the recent Australian import relaxations? Is he not aware that the main relaxations have been in the field of raw materials for secondary industries instead of in the field of textiles and other consumer goods? Is it a fact that cotton textiles stand to benefit only by about £2 million?
§ Mr. MackesonI should like to have notice of the last part of the question. This is a matter for the Australian Government, upon which they must use their own discretion in view of their balance of payments situation. We are aware, naturally, of the anxiety of everybody in this country to sell as many textiles as we can to the Australian market.
§ Mrs. CastleIs not this another example of the failure to use the opportunity of the Commonwealth Conference to get a proper balance of production and trade between this country and the other Commonwealth countries?
§ Mr. MackesonI am sorry, but I cannot join with the hon. Lady in criticising the administration of an independent Government