§ 79. Mr. J. Grimstonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he proposes, in the course of the coming Anglo-Spanish trade talks, to seek to abolish the system of multiple exchange rates which now prevails.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Spanish Government are fully aware of the views of His Majesty's Government on the system of multiple exchange rates which applies to trade with all countries, but the question of abolition is ultimately a matter for the Spanish Government. The effects of the existing Spanish exchange regulations on Anglo-Spanish trade will inevitably come up for discusion in the current trade talks.
§ 80. Mr. J. Grimstonasked the President of the Board of Trade how he pro poses to modify the powers of the Consultative Commission in the forth coming Anglo-Spanish trade talks, so as to make the Commission more effective.
§ Mr. BottomleyThe Anglo-Spanish Consultative Committee is serving a useful function in securing consultation with senior representatives of the Spanish Government in Madrid on matters arising out of our trade arrangements with Spain. I do not consider that any modification of the Committee's terms of reference would be appropriate since policy decisions are necessarily matters for the two Governments themselves.