HC Deb 03 February 1937 vol 319 cc1602-3
60. Mr. Thorne

asked the Attorney-General the number of divorce petitions presented during the year 1935–36 to the nearest available date; the number of decrees granted for that period; and the number awaiting hearing?

The Solicitor-General

As figures are concerned, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Civil judicial statistics are compiled yearly, and full details relating to divorce proceedings will be found in Table II on pages 21 and 22 of "The Civil Statistics for 1935."

The particulars asked for are as follow:

necessary financial arrangements to improve the trading relations?

Captain Euan Wallace (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has fulfilled all its financial obligations up to date under the Export Credits schemes. The surplus shown in the accounts of the Export Credits Guarantee Department (which are presented annually to Parliament) cannot be regarded as a profit so long as the Department has large contingent liabilities. In regard to the Department's charges and the need for financial facilities, no further action appears to be necessary, in view of the arrangements made between the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Soviet Government in July last whereby £10,000,000 was made available for the export of manufactured goods to the Soviet Union. The particular kinds of goods for the purchase of which this credit may be employed (subject to the proviso that 5o per cent. of the sale price is derived from expenditure on United Kingdom labour or materials) are selected by the Soviet purchasing organisation.

Mr. Smith

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that up to now only the heavy industries, with big finance companies behind them, have benefited out of this arrangement, and in view of that fact, will the Department take steps to see that financial backing is given to light industries in this country, so that they also can benefit from this arrangement?

Captain Wallace

One of the disadvantages of dealing with a dictatorship is that they only buy what the Government choose.

Mr. Thurtle

Are we to understand from the hon. and gallant Member's reply that the profits which are made from transactions with the Soviet Government are being made to meet the losses which are made from transactions with capitalist countries?

Captain Wallace

The hon. Member must not understand anything from my reply except what is in it.