§ 98. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of goods imported into this country from Russia during the last three months and the value of goods exported from this country to Russia during the same period?
§ Dr. BURGINParticulars for October are not yet available. During the preceding three months the total declared value of the imports into the United Kingdom of merchandise consigned from the Soviet Union amounted to £6,003,000, while exports to the Soviet Union amounted to £1,028,000, including re-exports valued at £426,000.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs my hon. Friend not aware that so long as the balance of trade is so heavily in favour of Russia there is no incentive to that country to come to an agreement, and is it not a fact that this is one of the primary causes of the delay in the negotiations?
§ Dr. BURGINThe answer to the second part of the supplementary question is in the negative.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that the balances of other countries are worse than that of Russia?
100. Major MILLSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set a time limit within which negotiations with the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics for a trade agreement must be completed; and whether, if such negotiations are not completed within such a time limit, he will consider the imposition of an additional import tax on Russian goods?
§ Dr. BURGINHis Majesty's Government have not overlooked the considerations which my hon. and gallant Friend appears to have in mind, but I do not think that the progress of the negotiations would be improved by the action suggested.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSAre these negotiations still proceeding, and when will they be completed?
§ Dr. BURGINThat is another question, and perhaps my hon. Friend will put it down.