§ 59. Mr. HALL-CAINEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider making arrangements with the Soviet Government, similar to those already existing between that Government and the French and Italian Governments, under which the Soviet Government agrees to purchase certain minimum quantities of the goods of those countries against their purchases?
§ 94. Mr. SMITHERSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the present figures with regard to export credits to Russia, he will refuse to trade further except on a system of barter for goods against goods?
§ Major COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I have been asked to answer these questions. My hon. Friend the Member for Eastern Dorset (Mr. Hall-Caine) is, I think, under a misapprehension. According to our information no reciprocal trading agreement has been reached between the French and the Soviet Governments. The Italo-Soviet Agreement of 27th April, 1931, merely stipulates the limit of Government credits available for Soviet purchases in Italy. The question of trade with Russia is receiving careful and special consideration and an announcement will be made in due course.
§ 73. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is at present the total liability of the Government on account of credits given to the Soviet Government; and what amount of this liability will remain on the 1st January, 1933, 1934, and 1935, respectively?
§ Major COLVILLEThe total amount of credits which the Export Credits Guarantee Department had contracted to guarantee from 1st August, 1929, to 30th January last in respect of exports to Russia was approximately £14,000,000. The maximum liability assumed under these contracts was £10,000,000 and bills for £5,200,000 have run off without any call being made on the Department's guarantee. As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Smithers) on 16th November, I hope that the House will excuse me, as they have excused my predecessors, from giving precise figures of the Department's liability on particular countries at any moment, a practice which has the support of the Department's Advisory Committee. I may, however, say as regards the last part of the question that practically all the current liability is due to run off by the mdidle of 1934.
§ 77. Sir ASSHETON POWNALLasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he has any information as to what, if any, foreign Governments give export credit facilities in connection with Russian trade?
§ Major COLVILLEThe Governments of the following countries are known to offer export credit facilities in connec-
| Description. | Unit of Quantity. | Quantity. | Declared Value. | |
| £ | ||||
| Barley | … | Cwt. | 5,638,468 | 1,180,621 |
| Oats | … | Cwt. | 2,783,640 | 629,185 |
| Maize | … | Cwt. | 659,910 | 133,982 |
| Raw Cotton (excluding linters) | … | Cental of 100 lbs. | 885,587 | 2,058,483 |
| Plywood | … | Sq. ft. | 96,106,267 | 262,186 |
| Linen piece goods | … | Sq. yd. | 488,991 | 14,973 |
| Soap | … | Cwt. | 28,920 | 39,702 |
| The above figures are provisional. | ||||
| Particulars of the imports of barley and oats consigned from the Soviet Union will be distinguished in the "Accounts relating to Trade and Navigation of the United Kingdom", commencing with the issue for January, 1932. No further amendments can be made for this year, but in respect of maize and cotton, for which imports from principal countries are shown in the "Accounts", the question of distinguishing separately the imports from the Soviet Union will be considered in connection with the revision of the "Accounts" for next year. |