§ Lieut.-Colonel Mooreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the extent to which British companies have recently been compelled, as the result of protective tariffs imposed by foreign countries, to build branch factories abroad; and what is the policy of his Department in this matter?
§ Mr. RuncimanA number of British concerns own or control factories in foreign countries but I am not aware that there has recently been any increase in the building by United Kingdom interests of branch factories in foreign countries. No doubt, where such building has taken place, tariffs or import restrictions may have been one factor influencing the parties concerned. For their part His Majesty's Government take all possible steps, when opportunities offer, to 1379W secure ameliorations of foreign tariffs and other restrictions which adversely affect United Kingdom exports.