§ Sir G. JONESasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has taken steps to impress upon the Lincolnshire engineering industry the knowledge that the British Government, under the exports credits scheme, is guaranteeing against default the bills of exchange accepted by the Soviet Government's trading organisation for purchases of British productions; and, if he has done so, will he state, without giving figures or names, whether he has succeeded in inducing Lincolnshire firms to avail themselves of these facilities to cover fresh business of any considerable magnitude in aggregate?
§ Mr. GILLETTI have reason to think that the Lincolnshire engineering industry is well aware of the fact that it is 945W now possible to consider business with Russia under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme. Negotiations with exporters who make proposals under the scheme are treated as strictly confidential. I do not, therefore, feel at liberty to reply to the second part of the question, as the number of engineering firms in Lincolnshire engaged in the export trade is so limited that their identity may be readily established.