§ Captain Pluggeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether it is the present policy of the Government to increase trade between this country and France; and, if so, whether he will take an early opportunity of giving an indication to the public that there is no need for them to cut down their purchases of French wines and other goods imported from that country?
§ Mr. R. S. HudsonIt is the desire of His Majesty's Government that restrictions on trade between this country and France should be reduced to the minimum compatible with war necessities, and they have taken and are taking the necessary steps to this end in consultation with the French Government. In view of the 71W recent Anglo-French Financial Agreement, purchases from France stand in a different category from purchases from other countries which necessitate the use of foreign exchange. Nevertheless, economy in private expenditure of all kinds, whether on home-produced or imported goods, remains urgently necessary; 72W and I therefore think it would be desirable, in the interests of France as well as of this country, that sales of each country's products of what may be called a luxury character should, as far as possible, be directed to other countries in which they will earn much needed foreign exchange.