§ 57. Mr. A. M. SAMUELasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the quantities and values of British-made cotton textiles exported to Russia from 1st January to 30th April of this year; and will he ascertain and state if there are on hand orders for an appreciable amount of such goods to be shipped to Russia?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMExports of cotton goods of domestic manufacture from the United Kingdom, registered as consigned to the. Soviet Union, during the period from 1st January to 30th April of the present year were as follow: Yarns, 68,600 lbs., of value £16,843; piece goods, 9,300 square yards, of value 1370; and £100 of other cotton manufactures (so far as they are separately recorded, except apparel and embroidery) for which quantities are not recorded.
I am not in a position to give information as to orders on hand for such goods for shipment to the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. SAMUELI did not hear the right hon. Gentleman clearly, but I understood him to say that that under £20,000 worth of exports of cotton goods were sent to Russia. If so, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are 140,000,000 of people in Russia and that we were promised by his party that Russian trade would do much to put our unemployment right?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThe actual figures were £16,843, but in any case this is only one item in our trade with Russia.
§ Sir W. BRASSDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that these figures will please Lancashire?