HC Deb 12 November 1929 vol 231 cc1704-5
27. Mr. LOUIS SMITH

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that the resumption of diplomatic privilege has been urged principally in the interests of in creased trade with Russia, he will make an early appointment of a trade commissioner to Moscow?

Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

I have been asked to reply. The appointment of a commercial secretary on the staff of His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow is receiving consideration.

31. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLE

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of total British exports were British exports to Russia, respectively, in the years 1910 to 1913 and 1920 to 1928?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

As the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Owing to territorial changes, a strict comparison cannot be made between post war and pre-War years in respect of our exports to the area comprised within the Soviet Union (Russia).

In the following table, the figures in column 2 for years up to and including 1920 relate to the former Russian Empire, and from 1920 to the Soviet Union (Russia), Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Column 3 gives figures relating to exports from the United Kingdom consigned to the Soviet Union (Russia).

Exports of United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures consigned to the undermentioned Countries expressed as a percentage of the total of such exports to all destinations in the respective years.
Year. Former Russian Empire. Soviet Union (Russia).
(1) (2) (3)
Per cent. Per cent.
1910 2.8 —
1911 3.0 —
1912 2.8 —
1913 3.4 —
1920 0.9 —
1921 1.2* 0.3
1922 1.2* 0.5
1923 1.2* 0.3
1924 1.4* 0.5
1925 1.7* 0.8
1926 1.6* 0.9
1927 1.4* 0.6
1928 1.2* 0.4
* Exports to the part of Poland formerly Russian and to Bessarabia, included in the figures for earlier years, are not included in the totals for 1920–1928, as they are not separately recorded.

The figures given above for periods prior to 1st April, 1923, relate to the trade of the British Isles as a whole, and from that date they relate to the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.