§ Mr. Raymond Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will pay an official visit to Japan in view of the success of the recent British Week held there and the increased trade possibilities it has created.
§ Mr. MasonI have no immediate plans to follow up my predecessor's visit to Japan which took place at the end of September in connection with British Week but I look forward to doing so at a later date when it can be conveniently arranged.
§ Mr. Raymond Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the expansion of Anglo-Japanese trade as a result of his recent talks with the Japanese Minister of Industry and Trade; what progress is being made in the liberalisation of trade between Great Britain and Japan; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MasonSubstantial progress has been made over the last few years in liberalising trade in both directions. In my conversations with the Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry during his recent visit to London, we agreed to try to remove the remaining restrictions on both sides, and negotiations to this end are in progress. I am glad to say that our exports to Japan in the first 10 months of this year were some 34 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of last year.
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§ Mr. Raymond Fletcherasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will send a mission from his Department to Japan to study the possibility of British manufacturers taking advantage of the expanding markets for British goods likely to be created by the projected expansion of the Japanese economic infrastructure, especially the roads system; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MasonOur commercial posts in Japan regularly report on all such developments and full account is taken by my Department and B.N.E.C. of the trade possibilities in this field in arranging both inward and outward missions.