§ Mr. PERKINSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Governments of Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia have practically prohibited the export of cash in payment for British exports; and whether he will make representations to the Governments concerned with a view to getting these restrictions removed and helping the British export trade?
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§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the effect upon the trade balance of one-sided payments by this country for imports from foreign countries, which, by regulation, prevent their nationals from paying sterling for British exports, and as other countries are meeting this difficulty by entering into bilateral agreements under which exporters in the respective countries are paid from pools created by importers, His Majesty's Government are taking any steps to make similar agreements?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware that systems of control of exchange have been introduced in a number of countries, including those referred to by the hon. Member for Stroud. While His Majesty's Government cannot take exception to the adoption by these countries of measures regarded as necessary to maintain their exchanges in the present abnormal circumstances, they are carefully watching the situation in order to safeguard the interests of British exporters so far as possible, and are in particular examining the possibilities of coming to special arrangements with the countries concerned. The whole question is, however, one of great difficulty, and I am not yet in a position to indicate what action, if any, may be found possible.