HC Deb 26 July 1962 vol 663 cc1707-8
11. Mr. Boyden

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department rendered to the Harwich firm which recently exported 12 cases of bingo tickets to Singapore; and what contribution this deal, described by the Board of Trade Journal as a recent export achievement, made to Britain's balance of payments problem.

Mr. Erroll

The company concerned uses Government services to exporters from time to time, but did not call upon us in this instance. All exports, large and small, contribute to our overseas earnings; I could not isolate the contribution made by an individual transaction.

Mr. Boyden

We must be grateful for small mercies, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is in England a large body of opinion which is disturbed by the Government's encouraging gambling? Will he consider boosting coal exports instead of boasting about bingo ticket exports?

Mr. Erroll

It is not a matter of boasting about bingo ticket exports. It is a matter of showing in the pages of the Board of Trade Journal what a very wide range of British products is exported, and because many of the smaller firms have the erroneous impression that we are interested only in big exports, we do include a selection of small exports in the same pages. As for coal exports, Government services are available to coal exporters, and the Coal Exporters Federation are happy at the services which they receive. If they wish particular features of coal exports to be publicised, I am only too wiling to consider that.

Mr. Nabarro

Is it not a fact that the first prerequisite of all sound exporting trade is that the quality should be good and the price right? Is it not a fact that these bingo tickets were of good quality and at a competitive price, neither of which desiderata applies today to British coal exports?

Mr. Erroll

I am told that it is also important to have a sound home market before one can mount an export drive.

Sir J. Vaughan-Morgan

Are we to understand that British coal exporters are missing many opportunities in Singapore?

Mr. Erroll

I am sure the Federation is alive to all opportunities for coal exports.