§ 27. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the number of officials employed by His Majesty's Government in Russia for purposes connected with trade and commerce; and the number of officials employed by the Soviet Government in Great Britain for the same purpose.
§ Mr. R. S. Hudson (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The following officials are employed for purposes connected with trade and commerce in Russia by His Majesty's Government:—A Commercial Secretary and his Assistant at Moscow; a Consul at Moscow, and a Consul-General and Vice-Consul at Leningrad. These officers are assisted by subordinate staff to the number of four. Consular Officers have, of course, duties in addition to those relating to trade and commerce. As regards the personnel and employes engaged in Soviet trading organisations in the United Kingdom, the approximate numbers of these, according to the latest information available, is as follows:—
The Soviet Trade Delegation—80.
Other Soviet Trade organisations in the United Kingdom—368, of which 25 are Soviet nationals, 340 British nationals, and 3 others.
The hon. Member will, of course, understand that no real comparison can be made between the duties of British and Soviet officials in commercial matters.
§ Sir William DavisonWill equal facilities be given to the representatives of British private firms, so that the number of representatives may be approximately equal in both countries?
§ Mr. HudsonI have already said that there can be no real comparison between the two positions.