§ Sir E. STOCKTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas 512W Trade Department whether he can state the amount of export credits taken up by British firms trading with Brazil; whether he can give any reasons for the relative disinclination of British firms to make use of these facilities; and whether, with a view to the promotion of trade between Great Britain and Brazil, further steps will be taken to effect the settlement. of the many British commercial claims now outstanding and unsettled against that country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS:Credits. have been granted to the value of £212,476 in respect of exports to Brazil, and of this amount £46,000 has so far been taken up. In addition, credits to a considerable amount have been sanctioned provisionally but have not been utilised, as the contracts concerned were not secured by British firms. With regard to the second part of the question, I have no evidence of any disinclination on the part of exporters to make use of these facilities in order to extend their trade with Brazil. I think it is rather that importers in Brazil are reluctant to place orders, owing to the state of the exchange. As regards the third part of the question, this is a matter which is receiving the constant attention of His-Majesty's Government..