§ 54. Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any arrangement has been come to under the new Russian trade agreement whereby the goods purchased by Russia in the United Kingdom will not include more than a definite maximum percentage of foreign goods imported into the United Kingdom and purchased by Russian trading organisations?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLENo, Sir. The extra cost of transport and handling, which would be involved in unnecessarily importing foreign goods into the United Kingdom for the purpose of re-export, is considered to be a sufficient safeguard against any undue increase in the volume of re-exports to the Soviet Union.
§ 56. Mr. STOREYasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the net tonnage of vessels which arrived with cargo at United Kingdom ports from Russian ports during 1933 was British?
§ Dr. BURGINOf the net tonnage of vessels that entered with cargo at United Kingdom ports from Russian ports during 1933, 15.2 per cent. was British.
§ Mr. MARTINDoes the hon. Gentleman think that that is a satisfactory state of affairs, in view of the idle tonnage that is lying in our rivers?
§ Dr. BURGINNo, Sir; I have every hope that it will be considerably improved as a result of the new agreement.
§ Mr. HANNONHas the Parliamentary Secretary any information that any discrimination is being made by the Soviet Government with regard to British shipping for carrying Soviet cargoes?
§ Dr. BURGINI wonder whether my hon. Friend would be good enough to wait for the Debate this afternoon, when a statement on this very topic will be made?