HC Deb 05 June 1951 vol 488 c101W
76. Mr. P. Roberts

asked the President of the Board of Trade what relative degree of priority is given to steel exports to Finland, and to those to hard currency countries and dollar areas.

Mr. Bottomley

Exports of finished steel are distributed between countries on the basis of a programme which is agreed between the Government and the steel industry: in planning this programme, we pay regard as far as possible to the needs of other Commonwealth countries, to the desirability of earning dollars and to the terms of undertakings exchanged in the course of trade talks. It is this last main factor which determines the level of importance attached to our exports of finished steel to Finland.