LORD STRABOLGIasked His Majesty's Government what are the charges made for export credit guarantees under the Trade Facilities (Export Credits) Acts to the various countries coming within the scope of these Acts; and what are the periods of credit granted?
1144WA
§ LORD TEMPLEMOREI presume that the noble Lord refers to guarantees given under the Overseas Trade Acts, 1920–34. The charges for such guarantees are fixed by the Statutory Advisory Committee to the Export Credits Guarantee Department on commercial and financial grounds. They vary according to the credit standing of the individual buyer, the security available, the conditions prevailing in the country of destination at the time of the transaction, the class of goods and so forth. The same considerations apply in determining the length of credit to be granted. A detailed reply to the noble Lord's inquiry is not therefore possible.
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past five o'clock.