asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the special responsibilities of the newly appointed Minister of State at the Board of Trade; and to what extent this appointment will stimulate the increase of productive industry in North-East Scotland and the exports from that area to America and Europe.

My noble Friend will be particularly concerned with stimulating the interest of British firms in exporting and in strengthening and improving their organisation for that purpose. It will be his function to promote the expansion of exports from all parts of the country to all overseas markets.

Does the Minister realise that this provides a good opportunity for rectifying a wrong which has been done to the north-east of Scotland by the invidious favouritism shown to the southeast of this island by increasing its communications with the Continent of Europe while neglecting communications between the north-east of Scotland and Scandinavia, and does he not—

Order. The supplementary question is going to be too long.

I think that my hon. Friend is himself a standing proof of the econo- mic prosperity and the political wisdom of Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland.