§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether, in view of the importance of the maintenance of British export trade during the progress of the war, special instructions are being given to the commercial secretariats at embassies and legations in neutral countries to intensify their activities in the expansion of markets for British goods?
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonSubject to the overriding importance of preventing supplies from reaching the enemy, maintenance of the export trade of this country is, as my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade recently announced, clearly of vital importance. Instructions have, therefore, been sent to our Commercial Diplomatic Officers, impressing upon them the necessity, now more urgent than ever, of continuing to report on the introduction of any measures in the country in which they are resident imposing any form of control over imports or exports or exchange which may be expected to affect the United Kingdom's962W trade with that country. In addition they have been instructed to furnish, as soon as it is possible to do so, information regarding the conditions in the markets in question. Such information, together with any reports which may be received regarding openings in those markets for specific commodities, will naturally be communicated to the United Kingdom trade interests concerned.