HC Deb 08 February 1967 vol 740 c1649
52. Mr. Alison

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish criteria to guide private firms in allocating their output between home and export demand.

Mr. Jay

No, Sir. The circumstances of individual firms differ too widely for this to be useful.

Mr. Alison

Then why does the right hon. Gentleman substitute exhortation for clear and rational principles?

Mr. Jay

I do nothing of the sort. We have found that, through the machinery of the British National Export Council, which is in contact with industry on a very wide scale, and individual visits by Board of Trade regional export officers, we get better results, judging by the figures, than we would, I believe, by a practice of the kind suggested.