§ Dr. Leechasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will request the Export Credits Advisory Committee to examine the reasons why British shipbuilders fail to obtain a fair share of foreign orders and then to report to what extent international barter transactions, or payment by blocked foreign currencies or by frozen credits against ships, or foreign Government subsidies and other financial assistance put us out of the market; and will he then consider a remedy by which to meet these forms of competition?
§ Dr. BurginA general investigation of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend would not fall within the province of the Advisory Committee of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. A deputation from the Shipbuilding Conference on the subject was received recently in the Board of Trade and I am prepared to consider any practicable suggestions for helping British shipbuilders to obtain foreign orders.