§ 69. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that whereas West German exports to Eastern Europe rose in value from £10 millions to £17 millions, comparing the first half of 1955 with the first half of 1954, British exports to Eastern Europe dropped from £6.8 millions to £6.4 millions in the same period; and what steps he is taking to draw the attention of British exporters to the importance of these markets and to assist them to sell their products there.
§ Mr. LowI am aware of the figures for West German exports quoted by the hon Member, but my information is that our own exports to the Soviet bloc countries, other than the U.S.S.R. itself, amounted to £6.1 million in the first half of 1954 and £6.5 million in the first half of 1955. The Board of Trade takes every opportunity, by the negotiation of trade agreements and in other ways, to afford to exporters every help in these difficult markets.