§ 46. Mr. DORANasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Soviet boat "Ian Rudzutak" landed at a London dock on the 6th May with a cargo of Russian butter and bacon, on which there is now an embargo; whether his Department issued any special licence giving permission for these Russian products to be landed and, if so, to whom; and in what circumstances was the licence issued and for what quantity of each product?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am informed that the ship referred to by my hon. Friend did not have Russian butter on board. Bacon is not a commodity the import of which is prohibited. The second and third parts of the question do not, therefore, arise.
§ 47. Mr. DORANasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Soviet boat "Dniestr" arrived at Hay's Wharf, London, on the 5th May, with 225 tons of Russian butter and 72,000 head of poultry, notwithstanding the embargo on these products; whether his Department issued any special licence giving permission for these products to be landed: and, if so, under what circum- 1694 stances and to whom the licence was issued?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am aware of the cargo referred to by my hon. Friend. Three licences have been issued in respect of consignments of butter and poultry shipped on the "Dniestr." The ground for the issue of the licences was that before the Proclamation under the Russian Goods (Import Prohibition) Act was issued these goods had been substantially paid for by the British importers concerned.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs it not perfectly legitimate for the President of the Board of Trade to issue a licence under the Act in respect of Russian goods coming into this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir, so long as the issue is within the terms of the Act.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir; it would be quite contrary to practice to disclose the names.
§ 50. Mr. TINKERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the protests sent to him from the Tyldesley Trade and Labour Council and other places in Lancashire against the embargo on Russian trade because of the increase of unemployment in that county through it; and will he take some action in this matter to alleviate the distress caused, especially to Lancashire?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Responsibility for any trade dislocation must rest with the Soviet Government.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Lancashire is getting more than its fair share of this embargo, and is suffering greatly; and may I ask that Lancashire should be considered in the matter?