§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the reported action of the German Government in controlling the export of German goods, and in fixing prices for the same, with a view to either stabilising or improving the rate of exchange; whether His Majesty's Government has considered the effect of restrictions of trade of this kind on employment in this country; how this action of the German Government will affect the working of the German Reparations (Recovery) Act and the Safeguarding of Industries Act; and whether His Majesty's Government is in consultation with the German Government with a view to the stabilisation of the exchanges by more natural and less harmful means?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe exportation from Germany of many descriptions of goods has been controlled for a long time past, and I understand that this616W control has generally involved a system of special prices for exports, fixed by the various trade organisations. I have seen references in the Press to recent proposals that in future German exporters should, where possible, insist on payment in foreign currencies, but I have received no official information on this subject. In any case, I see no ground for considering that the adoption of such proposals would affect the working of the two Acts referred to by the hon. and gallant Member, nor do I think that it would serve any useful purpose for His Majesty's Government to proffer advice to the German Government as to the best method of stabilising exchanges.