§ Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he is aware that the revival of British export trade is being seriously jeopardised due to the fact that export trade journals are not allowed to publish more advertisements proportionately than they did in 1939 and, in consequence, many advertisements of firms desiring to prepare for the export trade cannot be inserted; and, in view of the increase in our export trade needed, will he remove this obstacle at the earliest possible moment.
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§ Mr. H. JohnstonePresent regulations due to shortage of paper restrict the proportion of space devoted to advertising matter in export trade journals, but I am taking up with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply the possibility of relaxing this restriction.
§ Mr. Higgsasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department to what extent the export merchants who conducted the main export trade of this country have been brought into active discussion on trading necessities associated with postwar export.
§ Mr. JohnstoneIn addition to discussions with a large number of individual merchants and merchant bankers, many meetings connected with our post-war trade have taken place between my Department and Export Groups, a number of which include merchants among their members. The Consultative Committee which advised my Department on its future practice and procedure included a merchant among its members, and I have invited a merchant to join the Overseas Trade Development Council.