§ 51. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Production his policy in regard to orders for Russia for war and reconstruction; have orders of any kind been held up or delayed; and is it his intention to facilitate the maximum exchange between the two countries.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Production (Mr. Garro Jones)The policy of His Majesty's Government since 22nd June, 1941, has been to supply the Russians with everything for which they have asked and which we could provide. The Russian orders which we have been able to undertake have been given the same general status as our own Service needs, and have been held up only when the urgent operational needs of our own Forces have had to be put first. The Government are most anxious, so far as our resources will allow, to give the fullest possible assistance in the reconstruction of Russia, which has suffered so terribly from the war. It is certainly the intention of His Majesty's Government to facilitate a maximum exchange between the two countries.