Captain Swinģlerasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of British books exported to the States of South America from 1st July, 1945, to the latest date for which figures are available; and what schemes are at present in operation to encourage the export of British books and publications to these countries.
§ Mr. Belcher:Exports of books are not recorded separately; they are included with newspapers and periodicals, and recorded by hundredweights. During the period July, 1945, to February, 1946, inclusive, 185 cwt. of newspapers, periodicals and printed books, valued at £4,584, were exported from the United Kingdom to the various States of South 200W America. These figures do not include books sent abroad by parcel post. As regards the second part of the Question, we have recently arranged a scheme under which a special increase of 10 per cent. over and above publishers' basic paper quotas, which at present stand at 75 per cent of prewar usage, is made available to publishers who undertake to use it entirely to increase their rate of export. The publishers, on their side, have undertaken to attempt to reach, as a target, an export rate of more than double in value their prewar rate of export by the middle of next year, and have, in addition, organised an export research department to help them to achieve that target. These arrangements should stimulate exports to all countries, but are not designed to promote exports to South American countries in particular. In addition, the British Council have arrangements for giving publicity and general assistance to the book export trade in South America and certain other countries and are responsible for the publication and distribution of "British Books to Come," which has proved of great assistance to exporters.