§ 105. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade for details of the steps he is taking to free the channels which impede the expansion of British trade with foreign countries; and if he will specify the foreign countries concerned, the degree of success he has achieved with each, and the nature and value of the commodities involved.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI cannot analyse in the way suggested by the hon. and learned Member the results of the steady work of Her Majesty's Government towards the removal of trade barriers; but I can certainly assure him that we have made an important contribution towards freeing the channels of trade by working170W with other nations in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and in the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. As regards the limited field in which we have bilateral trade arrangements, which the hon. and learned Member may have in mind, we have secured quotas for imports of British goods into the foreign countries concerned. If the hon. and learned Member will let me know in more detail what information he wishes, I will do my best to provide it.