§ Mr. Craven-Ellisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the formation by the Government of the United Kingdom Corporation is only a war-time measure; and will he give assurance that the corporation will be wound up immediately after hostilities cease, so that the export trade may flow through its normal peace-time channels?
§ Mr. JohnstoneThe corporation was formed with a view to meeting difficulties in overseas trade which are due to conditions arising out of the war. It is impossible to foresee the conditions that will obtain when hostilities cease and, therefore, I cannot say whether at that date it will be desirable to terminate the activities of the corporation. These activities do not, I think, disturb the normal channels of trade but I can assure my hon. Friend that His Majesty's Government have every desire that trade should be freed from war-time restrictions and be conducted in a normal manner at the earliest possible date.