§ 71. Mr. Adamsasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to increase exports to the non-sterling area.
§ Mr. H. StraussWe need a large increase in exports to the non-sterling area, particularly North America, whilst continuing to meet the needs of sterling countries. Her Majesty's Government are doing everything they can, by negotiation with foreign Governments, to keep markets open for the whole range of our exports.
The recent recession of demand for many consumer goods, notably textiles, has made it the more necessary to increase production for export in the engineering industries whose products are generally in keen demand abroad. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained to the House, during the debate on the Budget proposals, the measures now being taken to reduce home demand on the engineering industries in order to increase exports. Steel supplies are being allocated on the understanding that a large proportion of output will be exported by the industries concerned.