§ 18. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the President of the Board of Trade the aggregate value for the two years 1928 and 1929 of imports into the United Kingdom from Soviet Russia, and similarly the aggregate value for the two years 1928 and 1929 of exports of United Kingdom productions and manufactures to Soviet Russia; and will he state whether a statistical abstract has yet been published containing the figures for the year 1929?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe particulars for each of the years 1928 and 1929 are shown in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom" for January last. The aggregates for the two years are:
The Statistical Abstract, which will include the particulars for 1929, is expected to be issued about the end of the current year.
£ Imports into the United Kingdom consigned from the Soviet Union (Russia) 48,082,908 Exports of produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom consigned to the Soviet Union 6,482,554
§ Mr. SAMUELAs the figures show that Russia had a credit here of £36,500,000, why is the Export Credits Scheme being extended to them?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe extension of the scheme is quite irrespective of any credit balance. Such a credit balance may be used for many commercial purposes.
§ Mr. SAMUELWhy should the credit of the British taxpayer be used for Russia, when Russia has a credit of £36,500,000?
28. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade the comparative figures of the value of the goods exported to and imported from Russia by the United States of America and Great Britain, respectively, in the three years 1925, 1926, and 1927?
§ Mr. GRAHAMWith the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs it a fact that the figures of the trade with America are greater than those with this country?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should not like to reply to that question off-hand. I advise my hon. and gallant Friend to look at this table.
| Trade between the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom. | |||
| — | 1925. | 1926. | 1927. |
| £'000. | £'000. | £'000. | |
| Total Imports consigned from the Soviet Union | 25,322 | 24,130 | 21,052 |
| Exports consigned to the Soviet Union— | |||
| United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures | 6,240 | 5,858 | 4,509 |
| Imported Merchandise | 13,017 | 8,543 | 6,781 |
§ The values of imports in the United Kingdom represent the c.i.f. values of the goods at British ports, and the values of imports into the United States represent the values of the goods, as packed for export, in the country from which they were shipped to the United States.