§ Sir A. Somervilleasked the Prime Minister what are now the official operations of the Secretary for Overseas Trade beside routine Departmental duties; and whether, as export trade is being developed by the Export Council, of which the secretary is a vice-chairman, he will ask him to act as vice-chairman of the Area Distribution Committee for Consolidation of Retail Distribution (Limitation of Supplies Orders) or in some other capacity?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade has a variety of functions connected with export trade and, in addition to the work of his own Department, under my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, he deals with the work of the Commercial Relations and Treaties Department of the Board of Trade and 1103W of the Export Credits Guarantee Department. The implication that the existence of the Export Council—of which he is vice-chairman—reduces his activities, entirely lacks foundation. Indeed, the abnormal difficulties which now confront our export trade increase rather than reduce the work of the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade. I see no occasion for extending the scope of his functions as suggested by my hon. Friend.