§ 22. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken during the last six months to invite delegates from Scandinavian countries to a trade conference in Scotland for the purpose of taking advantage of their geographical propinquity to Scotland and developing the existing trade relations between them and Scotland.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Mr. Alan Green)We are in constant consultation with our Scandinavian partners in E.F.T.A. for the purpose of developing trade between those countries and Britain as a whole.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the great unemployment in North-East Scotland, is it not very wrong for the Board of Trade to treat Britain as a whole instead of dealing with the areas which need Government help? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Aberdeen Harbour Board and other representative bodies have sent trade missions to Scandinavia with a view to developing trade, industry and employment in North-East Scotland? What are the Government doing to supplement those efforts?
§ Mr. GreenI am sure that the hon. and learned Member would agree that the proper duty of the Board of Trade is to treat the trading interests of this country as a whole. I have no doubt of that. It is, of course, quite true that there are close commercial ties between Scotland and Scandinavia. I am happy to welcome those initiatives and to increase those ties and to support them, but the hon. and learned Member will no doubt recall that during March alone we were favoured with visits by the Swedish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and the Danish Foreign Minister. I think a great deal of promotion of trade is going on.
§ Mr. HughesIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the Answer, I beg to give notice—although it is quite unusual to me—that I shall raise this matter again.