HC Deb 20 March 1962 vol 656 c25W
Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make it clear in all future Government statements relating to the increase of production in this country that an increase of production for the purpose of making this country more self-supporting and eliminating the need for unnecessary imports is just as necessary as an expansion of production for the purpose of increasing exports.

Mr. Erroll

No. It would not make economic sense to increase domestic production in order to save imports unless the goods could be produced here more cheaply and more efficiently than they can be bought from abroad. Our prosperity depends on the expansion of international trade, and trade must be a two-way process.