§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will review arrangements under the ECGD whereby credit inquiries for amounts of under £15,000 are not given urgent consideration; and what representations have been received by his Department about these arrangements.
§ Mr. DeakinsNo. The Confederation of British Industry, the British Export Houses Association and ECGD's Advisory Council of business men and bankers were consulted beforehand and welcomed the new system. It enables exporters to fix limits up to and beyond £15,000 without reference to ECGD. Where exporters none the less ask ECGD to fix limits, the treatment of such applications is unchanged, except on amounts below £15,000, and then only if inquiries overseas by ECGD are necessary. Apart from a single complaint, preliminary indications suggest that ECGD's policyholders appreciate the greater flexibility and overall speed of the new system.