§ 1. Mr. TAYLORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that imports into Russia for the year 1923–24 were valued at 433,000,000 roubles; and whether, in view of the fact that only about one-third of these imports were exported by Great Britain, His Majesty's Government will now remove the bar which at present prevents the Trade Facilities Act being applied to trade done by Great Britain with Russia?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. MacKenzie Livingstone) on 1st April, a copy of which I am sending him.
§ Mr. TAYLORMay we take it that it is not the policy of the Government to remove the bar?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. Member may take it that the policy of the Government is that which the Prime Minister announced in the answer to which I have referred.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONWould the right hon. Gentleman say whether the terms of the Trade Agreement with Russia have been observed?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.
2 Lieut. Commander KENWO RTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total British exports to, and imports from, Russia for the first three months of the present year?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE - LISTERThe declared value of imports into Great Britain and Northern Ireland registered as consigned from Russia during the three months ended 31st March, 1925, amounted to £3,245,996. The declared value of goods, the produce and manufacture of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, exported during the same period and registered as consigned to Russia, amounted to £1,502,393.