§ 27. Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the ratio to the total amount of all risks outstanding under the Export Credit Guarantee Scheme now represented by the British Government's guarantee of the credit of the Soviet delegation?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)No, Sir. I do not think it would be desirable to give this information.
§ Mr. SAMUELAre we to understand that the guarantees of the credit of the Soviet Government by His Majesty's Government are in excess of £2,500,000? Were not those figures given the other day?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe figures were not given exactly on those lines.
§ Mr. SAMUELIs the reason for not giving the figures, the fact that they disclose a policy contrary to the undertaking given by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that his Majesty's Government would not guarantee the credit of the Soviet Government?
§ Mr. GILLETTNo, Sir. That is not the case, because the House has been informed already of the amount of business done with Russian exporters.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEWhile we may well understand the objection to 912 giving particulars of an individual transaction, what possible objection can there be to giving the totals?
§ Mr. GILLETTBecause it is not thought advisable to give the figures for a particular country. At certain times, quite apart from the question of Russia, the Department does not wish to give facilities to export to certain countries, and it would be very unfortunate to have to announce that fact to the House of Commons.