HC Deb 29 January 1934 vol 285 cc23-5
35. Mr. GRAHAM WHITE

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement with regard to the negotiations for a trade agreement with Russia?

33. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he has any statement to make on the Anglo-Russian trade negotiations?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

I am not yet in a position to make any further statement on this matter.

Mr. D. GRENFELL

Can the hon. and gallant Member say whether the question of the Lena Goldfields has been set aside for a later date?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

There is a question on that subject later, and I think the hon. Member had better await that.

Viscountess ASTOR

Will the hon. and gallant Member assure the House that he will not get the question of the Lena Goldfields mixed up with this trade agreement, which is very important?

Mr. WHITE

Can my hon. and gallant Friend give any indication of when he is likely to be able to make a statement and to give any general indication of what is holding up the agreement?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

As regards the first supplementary question, there is a question on the subject later. As regards the second supplementary question, I cannot make a statement yet, except to say that many of the difficulties have been removed.

Mr. T. SMITH

Can the hon. and gallant Member give the House any information as to the obstacles which are in the way?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

No, Sir, I cannot say more at this stage.

Mr. GRENFELL

Will the hon. and gallant Member take the House into his confidence on this extraneous subject which blocks the way?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

I cannot add to my previous statement.

Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOOD

Is the hon. and gallant Member aware that the whole herring industry is being held up by the delay in entering into this agreement as there are few markets where herring can be disposed of, and can he give the industry some indication that they will be able to get a move on?

Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLE

We are aware of the interest of the herring industry in this matter, but there is nothing to prevent the Russian Government from buying herring now.

45. Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to give the House an opportunity of debating the Anglo-Russian trade negotiations?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

As soon as an agreement is signed it will be laid before Parliament, and there will then be an opportunity of debating the matter.

Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

May I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Government have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining a trade agreement, he will give the House an opportunity of putting forward more effective methods, as, for instance, restricting the imports of goods from Russia into this country until the agreement is signed?

The PRIME MINISTER

I am afraid that the hon. Member's premise is mistaken.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

I would like to ask the Prime Minister what it is that is holding up the negotiations, because it is holding up work that we could get in our engineering and shipbuilding industry, as well as in the herring industry, and the Prime Minister knows that better than anyone else?

The PRIME MINISTER

Those are questions which must be addressed to the Departments concerned.