§ 66. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Minister of Labour for what reason it has been recommended that permits should be issued to a number of known Russian Communists who are replacing British citizens in the employ of companies registered in England, known as the Moscow Narodny Bank, Russian Oil Products, and Arcos, seeing that all of the British citizens have held their posts for a number of years and will now be unemployed?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have been asked to reply. Every application for facilities to enable a Soviet citizen to proceed to this country for the purpose of employment in a Soviet trading organisation is
| -- | Average price in | ||||
| 1926. | 1927. | 1928. | 1929. | 1930. | |
| Per cwt. | |||||
| Wheat. | s. | s. | s. | s. | s. |
| English "Gazette Average" | 12.43 | 11.47 | 10.06 | 9.92 | 7.99 |
| Imported Argentine, spot Liverpool | 13.01 | 12.56 | 11.18 | 10.24 | 8.13 |
| Imported Northern Manitoba No. 2 description ex ship, London. | 13.81 | 13.43 | 12.20 | 11.90 | 8.88 |
| Imported average declared value (c.i.f.) of all wheat imported into the United Kingdom. | 13.05 | 12.33 | 11.12 | 10.34 | 8.21 |
| Per 4 lbs. | |||||
| Bread. | d. | d. | d. | d. | d. |
| Average retail price in the United Kingdom, as compiled by the Ministry of Labour. | 10.0 | 9.75 | 9.0 | 8.75 | 8.5 |
§ dealt with on its merits, having regard to all the circumstances of the case. I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour, whether any changes in the present procedure are desirable.
§ Commander BELLAIRSWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the fact that these permits, coming on the top of a large number of other permits, mean that this country is becoming honeycombed with Communists, who in every country of the world have been guilty of espionage?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe relevant part of that question will not be lost sight of.
§ Mr. ALBERYMay I ask the Home Secretary if one of the matters which he is considering is the balance of trade between the two countries?