§ Sir C. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade why British exports to China in the first four months fell from £7,337,590 in 1964 to £5,405,186 in 1965; why our trade with a nation of 700 million is at this low level; what action he is taking to encourage it; what are the prospects of success; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedheadExport figures for the first five months of this year do not reflect the value of orders placed in Britain for capital plant and ships (totalling over £11 million) or the numerous other contracts made with British manufacturers in the last few months. The figure for exports in May, 1965, is however £2 million compared with £1.3 million in May, 1964. British traders are continuing to develop the contacts they have made with the Chinese state trading corporations and the services of the Board of Trade are available to firms seeking to do business with China.