Commercial Relations and Exports Department (Staff)

HC Deb 11 November 1952 vol 507 cc27-8W

89. Colonel Gomme-Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the staff of his commercial relations and exports department has increased from 742 in 1951–52 to 790 in 1952–53.

Mr. Mackeson

It became necessary in the course of 1951–52 to provide additional staff to deal with an extension of export licensing control over a wide range of goods, and the provision in the 1952–53 estimates reflected that increase. Since 1st November, 1951, there has, in

34,832 cwt. of fresh tomatoes and 861 cwt. of plums, greengages and damsons. There were no imports of strawberries in 1950.

fact, been a decrease of 53 in the number of staff employed in the Commercial Relations and Exports Department.