§ 6. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number, nature and value in money for each of the last 10 years of exports from Aberdeen to the United States and to the Scandinavian countries, and his plans to increase that export trade.
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganExports from the City of Aberdeen to individual countries are not separately specified in the official statistics. The services of the Board of Trade and of our commercial representatives abroad are available to give advice and help to all inhabitants of the United Kingdom, including those of Aberdeen. These services are mainly free.
§ Mr. HughesWhy are these figures not kept separately? Is the Minister aware of the delegation from Scandinavian countries which came to this country recently with a view to increasing trade between those countries and the north-east of Scotland? Will he tell the House, and indeed tell me, what steps he has taken by means of this delegation or otherwise to provide much-needed foreign trade for the north-east of Scotland?
§ Mr. Vaughan-MorganIt would clearly be an appalling task, which I think would not be worth the expense, to secure an analysis by local authorities of particular exports to particular areas. A great deal is being done by the Government to promote exports to the U.S.A. and Scandinavia. I would draw attention to the success which we have had in exporting to America.