§ 23. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether British firms are permitted to display poster and newspaper advertisements for British products in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; and, if not, what means they are allowed to adopt to make their products known to the Russian people?
§ Mr. GILLETTPoster, newspaper and other advertisements are accepted in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics from foreign firms by a special State Bureau, in which such business is centralised.
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONHaving regard to the fact that no advertisements of British companies are allowed in Soviet Russia, does not the hon. Gentleman think it desirable to say that we cannot go on allowing Russian oil products to be sold here[Interruption.)
§ 24. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is yet in a position to inform the House what are the exceptional cases in which British firms may by special permission sell direct to wholesalers and retailers in the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics?
§ Mr. GILLETTAs the answer to the question asked by the, hon. Member is rather long, I will, with his permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLECan the hon. Gentleman say whether the answer which he gave last week was authoritative or not?
§ Mr. GILLETTI have no doubt that it was.
§ 26. Sir WILLIAM LANE MITCHELLasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if the Cuban sugar bought by the Soviet Government and brought here to be refined is guaranteed in full under the exports credit scheme or whether the refining charges only are guaranteed?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe guarantees given under the Export Credits Guarantee Scheme in connection with the export of sugar to Russia covered a proportion of the bills of exchange drawn in respect of the full cost of the shipments.
§ Sir W. LANE MITCHELLThat is to say, that the sugar is bought by Russia in Cuba, and that our credit was used to guarantee the payment for it?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe guarantees were given on a transaction which covers the cost of the purchase of the sugar as well as the expenditure of refining it.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELIs it not a fact that some of the sugar so bought has now been sent hack to England to be sold again against our own products?
§ Mr.GILLETTI do not think that that is so; I think that the hon. Gentleman has been misinformed.
Lieut. - Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLHas the hon. Gentleman's attention been called to a statement on this very point which was made by the Prime Minister on the 4th November?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEWill the hon. Gentleman consider the effect of this guarantee on our own sugar manufacturers?
§ Mr. WHITEWas not the object of this transaction to withdraw from the sugar pool a large quantity of sugar, and were not the producers of sugar thereby benefited?
§ Mr. GILLETTThe object of the transaction was to give work to British refiners.