§ 24. Mr. Jegerasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the official visit to South Yorkshire of the Minister of State.
§ Mr. GreenYes, Sir. My two-day visit to South Yorkshire this week was 1531 one of a number of export promotion visits which I am making to manufacturing centres throughout the country. These visits are a continuation of those made by my predecessor early last year and provide opportunities to meet, in their own offices and workshops or at informal gatherings, as many as possible of those who are already engaged in exports in order to discuss with them their successes, ideas, problems or difficulties.
§ Mr. JegerWhile thanking the Minister for that comprehensive reply, may I ask whether it is his intention to go to the Port of Goole, which is the only port in the West Riding of Yorkshire and is a natural outlet for exports from Yorkshire to the Continent of Europe? Will he consult the authorities in Goole with a view to increasing exports through the port?
§ Mr. GreenI know the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that one cannot be everywhere at the same time, but the means of moving goods from factories, whether in Yorkshire or in any other part of the country, through the most convenient ports are amongst the matters discussed with industrialists, and therefore the needs and problems of Goole are in fact discussed even though I have not been there.
§ Mr. A. RobertsIs the Minister aware that the public of Yorkshire view this visit with apprehension? Is he further aware that they look on this visit not as a means of increasing exports but as a means of poaching industry out of the county?
§ Mr. GreenI assure the hon. Gentleman that those suspicions are wholly unfounded. My sole purpose in making the visit is to help to promote exports, and the location of industry or the moving of industry out of Yorkshire has played absolutely no part, and would play no part, in any of my discussions with the constituents of the two hon. Gentlemen who have raised this matter.