Exports to West Africa

HC Deb 10 April 1962 vol 657 cc1123-4

27. Mr. Dugdale

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase exports from the Midlands to West Africa.

Sir K. Joseph

All the facilities which the Government provides to increase exports to West African and other markets are available to firms in the Midlands.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that although West Bromwich weighing machines are selling very successfully in Ghana, it is Japan, and not Birmingham, which is selling cheap jewellery in Sierre Leone, and, so far as West Africa generally is concerned, in spite of the fact that British motor-car manufacturers have a 10 per cent. preference, they are being driven out by the Germans and by other European manufacturers? If this happens now, how does the hon. Gentleman suppose that we shall ever succeed when we join the Common Market?

Sir K. Joseph

We have to accept the fact that we are going to face more competition all over the world whether we go into the Common Market or not, and our businessmen are fighting back very well against this increase in competition in West Africa.