§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what use has been made up to the 1842W present of the Government export credits scheme; and whether any of the initial difficulties of popularising it have been removed?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe advances sanctioned under the Export Credits Scheme amount to £1,850,527 17s., of which £360,455 7s. 9d. have been actually taken up. Since the percentage of cost to be advanced was raised from 80 per cent. to 100 per cent., the scheme has proved much more acceptable to the business community, and the amount of business done has considerably increased. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and myself are, however, actively engaged at this moment, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Hull yesterday, in examining the possibility of some further modifications in the scheme, and I hope that it may be possible to make an announcement very shortly.