§ 63. Major GLYNasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can state the details of official representations made to the Government by the Soviet Government for credits to construct vessels in British yards for employment under the Soviet flag; and if the Government have come to any decision on this matter?
§ 64. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department if he can now state what progress has been made in the negotiations now taking place between His Majesty's Government and the trade representatives of the Russian Government on the request from the latter for credits to enable them to order a number of ships to be built in British shipyards; and whether His Majesty's Government will give such credits in order to encourage heavy and light engineering?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMHis Majesty's Government are considering this matter as one of urgency, but a decision cannot be reached until all the necessary information is available.
§ Major GLYNWith a large amount of shipping laid up, is it necessary to consider construction, and the giving of money to the Soviet Government until some of the existing shipping is purchased?
§ Mr. GRAHAMThere is, of course, a very large amount of unused tonnage 796 lying up and that is being taken into account, but there are many other considerations, including in particular certain classes of ships.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these ships would feed the unemployed and that we have thousands of shipbuilders in this country who are anxious and willing to build these ships for the Russians? Will he, therefore, see his way to grant the Russians the same credits as they are getting from Italy?
§ Mr. GRAHAM WHITErose——
§ Mr. KIRKWOODOn a point of Order. Why am I not getting a reply to my question?
§ Mr. GRAHAMI have already indicated that much additional information is necessary on this by no means easy problem, and that information includes the question of rival credit terms.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply which I have received to this very important question, affecting the shipbuilding and engineering trade which I represent, I beg to give notice that I am going to raise the matter on the first available opportunity.