65. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what further representations he made to the Norwegian and Finnish Governments at the Lisbon Conference following British concern that the European Free Trade Association exporters of important classes of motor vehicles are receiving no benefits over exporters from other countries so far as Norway and Finland are concerned; and what concessions Norway and Finland propose to make, in view of the imminent abolition of Great Britain's 10 per cent. import charge;
(2) whether he is aware that the British motor industry could immediately increase its exports by at least £12 million per annum if the spirit of the European Free Trade Association were properly observed in the matter of duty reductions on motor vehicles; and what action he now proposes to take with a view to enabling such an increase in exports to take place.
§ Mr. JayAt Lisbon, I pressed once again that cars, like other industrial products, should receive the benefits of E.F.T.A. tariff treatment in Norway and Finland. My Norwegian and Finnish colleagues have not yet promised any change in existing practice. I shall continue to pursue this question.