§ 44. Mr. G. Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade what complaints he has received from British merchants of discrimination by Spain against British exports in violation of its trade agreement.
§ 56. Mr. Peartasked the President of the Board of Trade how far there is discrimination against British exports to Spain.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe Spanish authorities are, I understand, issuing licences fairly freely for the import of less-essential goods from various European countries of whose currencies they are not short. They have, however, done little as yet to carry out their undertaking to issue licences for the import of these goods from the United Kingdom at the agreed quarterly rate. The reason they give for this is the delay in their receiving sterling from Spanish exports. I have received a considerable number of complaints from United Kingdom exporters, and arrangements have been made for a meeting with the Spanish authorities next month in order to review the position.
§ Mr. JegerIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that the trade figures show that we are importing from Spain a much larger quantity of goods of sterling value than they are importing from this country, and therefore, the excuse that they are short of sterling cannot be held as valid?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am satisfied that the Spanish authorities could issue licences more freely than at present, and that is the object of the meeting which I have arranged.