Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce. – in the House of Commons at on 21 March 1939.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of British exports to Portugal during the past two years as compared with the value of German exports for a similar period?
During the years 1937 and 1938, the value of imports from the United Kingdom into Portugal, including Azores and Madeira, amounted to 429,000,000 and 390,000,000 escudos, respectively; the corresponding figures of imports from Germany were 352,000,000 escudos in 1937 and 384,000,000 in 1938.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to help the export of British pottery to Italy in view of the new regulations subjecting pottery to licence, in lieu of quota, which threatens to stop some £50,000 of British export trade?
Imports into Italy of United Kingdom pottery are admissible under existing arrangements up to 31 per cent. of the c.i.f. value in lire of the corresponding imports in 1934. On this basis the aggregate value of the annual quotas for pottery wares is equivalent to about £2,200. The figure of £50,000 quoted by the right hon. Gentleman appears to relate not only to pottery, but to exports of all sorts and descriptions under the heading "pottery, glass, abrasives, etc." The amount of the prescribed quota would not be affected by any new regulations subjecting pottery to licence in lieu of the present import regime; I have, however, received no official intimation of any impending change in this respect.