Mr. Wilson:

Since this Agreement is not merely a renewal of previous Agreements, but contains entirely new principles, I should like to ask the hon. Gentleman two questions. First, in view of the acute anxiety with which this Agreement is regarded, not only in Lancashire but in the Potteries and in other export districts, will he tell the House why there has apparently been no consultation with those areas, despite the fact that under the Labour Government we consulted all those interests before making any of these Agreements, especially where Japan was concerned? Secondly, while I am sure the whole House would not wish to use our position with the Colonies to force them to buy British goods if they did not want to, will the hon. Gentleman tell us why there has been this abrupt reversal in relation to colonial imports from Japan, instead of easing the situation by a gradual in-increase of quotas at a time when Lancashire is attempting to alter her marketing methods to meet colonial needs and at a time when Japanese competition is likely to be particularly virulent because she is denied her natural market in China?