§ 39. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is yet in a position to say if an annual report on trade conditions in Russia from our trade commissioner there will be published?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)While no decision has yet been taken to publish an annual report upon trade conditions in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as is done in the case of other countries, I hope that it may be possible, before long, to issue some publication dealing with trade with that country.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELWill the hon. Gentleman allow that publication to include a survey of the currency expansion?
§ Mr. GILLETTIt will certainly include all relevant factors.
§ Sir A. POWNALLCan the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department say why it has not been proposed to issue, in the case of Russia, the same valuable information that we get from our trade commissioners in every other country where we have commissioners?
§ Mr. GILLETTNo annual report has been published about Russia since 1915, and then it dealt only with a part of Russia. We are simply following the practice of previous Governments.
§ Sir PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTERNow that His Majesty's Government have established special relations with Russia and have special facilities, is not that all the more reason why we should let the country know what is happening?
§ Mr. GILLETTWe have treated this matter in the same way as previous Governments have done.