§ 4. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade what further action he proposes to take to improve the competitive position of the manufacturing industries and increase United Kingdom export trade.
§ Mr. ErrollThese will continue to be major objectives of the Government's 1538 policy, but the primary responsibility for improving the competitiveness of United Kingdom industry and for increasing exports rests with managers, designers, salesmen and workers engaged in the production of goods and services.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithAs the President of the Board of Trade has had great experience in large-scale, efficient industry engaged in the export trade, will he now take the initiative so that resolute and urgent action can be taken to increase our exports, which would be in harmony with world expansion of trade? Does he not agree that those of us who have always deprecated the subordination of Britain's trade interests to our foreign policy have now been proved correct?
§ Mr. ErrollI can assure the hon. Gentleman that we will continue to urge industry to increase its exports. As proof of that, we are constantly improving and overhauling the services we give to exporters and would-be exporters. Furthermore, the Chancellor's policy for the economy of the country as a whole is likewise designed to encourage and increase exports.