§ 12. Mr. G. Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the unbalanced nature of Anglo-Spanish trade; and what action he proposes to remedy this.
§ Sir D. EcclesI am aware that Spanish imports from this country fall short of our imports from Spain. But Spain makes substantial payments to other countries in the sterling area, and I see no reason to vary our present policy of seeking to promote trade with Spain in both directions.
§ Mr. JegerIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that that is a very complacent attitude, and that the facts are that the Spanish Government have been playing ducks and drakes with us for many years, with all the ducks on our side and the drakes on theirs?
§ Sir D. EcclesIf I understand the hon. Gentleman aright, I think the answer to him is that over the last five years Spanish imports from this country have proportionately increased more than our sales to Spain.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIs my right hon. Friend aware that the British horticulturist is far more interested in the tomato trade than in ducks and drakes, and will he make quite certain that the Board of Trade keeps a careful watch on the position so that the home producer of tomatoes is not undermined by a flood of imports from Alicante?
Mr. H. WilsonWould the right hon. Gentleman say what he meant when he said just now that Spanish imports have increased more than our sales to Spain?
§ Sir D. EcclesI apologise to the House. What I meant, of course, was that the Spaniards have been buying more from us in total over the last five years than we have from them.