§ Mr. G. GIBSONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that under the conditions under 1838W which the Australian Government proposes to deal with moneys belonging to British exporters which have been invested temporarily in Australian short-dated loans, such moneys must now be compulsorily invested in new short-dated loans; whether he will ascertain what will be the rate of interest on such loans and on what conditions and at what date they will be redeemable; and whether he can see his way to secure from the Australian Government an arrangement under which trade moneys belonging to British exporters, if invested in the new short-dated loans, would be redeemable in sterling?
Mr. THOMASI fear that the information in my possession is not sufficient to enable me to answer in detail the points raised by the hon. Member. I understand, however, that the question of short-dated loans of the kind in question is receiving special consideration from His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia I shall be glad to arrange with my hon. Friend the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade for full particulars of the arrangements contemplated to be communicated to the hon. Member as soon as they are available.