§ 6. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a fresh approach to the Norwegian Government with a view to increasing the quotas for British exports to Norway.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo, Sir. We discussed these quotas with the Norwegian Government as recently as March and, having regard to Norway's balance of payments situation, I would consider the quotas to be substantially adequate.
§ Mr. Gresham CookeDoes my right hon. Friend not agree that, taking into account Norwegian earnings from shipping, Norway has a substantial balance of payments in her favour; and having regard to this, would it not be a good thing if she took a few more of our goods?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIn principle, it would always be a good thing if everybody took more of our goods. Norway is not, however, without her balance of payments difficulties. In fact, our bilateral quotas with her cover only a very small proportion of our total trade in that area.