§ 6. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends taking to negotiate a trade agreement with East Germany which will be of assistance to British firms wishing to increase exports to the East German market.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNone, Sir. Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the East German authorities as the Government responsible for the Soviet Zone of Germany, and cannot, therefore, enter into official trade negotiations with them.
§ Mr. HughesIs the Minister aware that, at the Leipzig Trade Fair, British firms exhibiting their goods found that they were at a hopeless disadvantage compared with their European competitors? Nearly every other country has a trade agreement, but the Herring Board has to do its business with East Germany by a process of barter. All this is handicapping British trade. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into the position and see whether something can be done to improve it.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe hon. Gentleman may be somewhat overstating the handicaps. All I am stating is the position. I am not in a position to enter into a trade agreement with a Government which is not recognised by Her Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. FellIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is something which he can do in this matter? Even to relax the barter arrangement a little would be most helpful to many ports in this country, and particularly to Great Yarmouth, from which herring can be sold to East Germany, which is a good market for them. We cannot make satisfactory arrangements by barter.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIf there is anything, short of what I am asked in the Question 2112 about a trade agreement, that I can do to ease the individual problems of individual trade organisations, I shall be happy to look at it.