18. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to inform the House of the results of the inquiry which he promised should be instituted with respect to the arrangements which have been made by the Soviet Government for the purchase and disposal of sugar?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENI have been asked to answer this question. Under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme guarantees have been given in connection with the export to Russia of cane sugar refined in this country. While I have no official information on the subject, I understand that Russia has also bought raw sugar direct from Cuba. No guarantees have been given in connection with these latter transactions, which would not fall within the scope of 600 the scheme. Latvia normally imports considerable quantities of sugar from Russia, but, although official statistics for the current year are not yet available, private inquiries which I have made suggest that the amount of sugar entering Latvia during 1930 from Russia has so far been considerably less than in 1928 and 1929.
Sir F. HALLIs there any truth in the statement made by the Leader of the Opposition in his speech on the 4th of this month, about which the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister said he would pledge himself to set down a departmental minute to inquire as to the authenticity of the point raised by my right hon. Friend?