asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet able to give any results of the appointment of the special commercial assistant to His Majesty's Ambassador in China?

I have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend refers to the recent appointment of Mr. W. M. Kirkpatrick as representative of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in China. His duties are to investigate proposals submitted for guarantee and to furnish the Department and its Advisory Committee with the necessary information on which they can base their decisions. His reports relate solely to transactions with exporters which the Department is pledged to treat in confidence, and in these circumstances I regret that I cannot make a detailed statement on the subject of his activities.

If it is not possible to make a detailed statement, can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not make a statement on the general effect?

I think my right hon. Friend will realise the difficulty of doing so at present. We must give Mr. Kirkpatrick a chance: he has not been in China very long and it is a very big country.

Is it the case that Mr. Kirkpatrick will be coming home shortly, as was stated by the President of the Board of Trade the other day?

I should like notice of that question. If my right hon. Friend did say so, it is sure to be right.