HC Deb 29 November 1948 vol 458 cc1638-40
71. Mr. Frank Byers

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quantities and types of strategic war materials have been despatched to the U.S.S.R. in the last 12 months.

The Secretary for Overseas Trade (Mr. Bottomley)

It is not practicable to define what is a strategic war material, many articles having a dual use for peace and war purposes. I am therefore circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement of all exports and re-exports from the United Kingdom to the U.S.S.R. in the 12 months ended September, 1948.

Mr. Byers

Has not the time now come to reconsider our decision to send strategic war materials to Russia while the blockade of Berlin is persisted in by that country? Will the hon. Gentleman give an answer?

Mr. Bottomley

There is no question of not answering. I said it is difficult to define what are strategic war materials. It is necessary for us to have some foodstuffs and other raw materials from that country, and so long as it is in the interest of the United Kingdom to do that trade, we shall continue to do it.

Mr. Byers

Is it not clear from the Minister's answer that the Government are sending strategic war materials, no matter how difficult it is to define them, and has not the time come to make a straight decision, in view of the Berlin situation?

Mr. Bottomley

Perhaps the hon. Member will await the list which is to be published in HANSARD.

Mr. Anthony Nutting

Is not the Minister aware that during the war, when we had to deal with neutrals on the subject of sending war materials to our enemies, we had a very clear idea exactly what constituted war materials? Have we altered our mind since then, and, if not, why cannot the Minister tell

EXPORTS TO THE SOVIET UNION IN THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER, 1948
— Unit of Quantity Quantity Value £'000
United Kingdom Exports—
Raw materials and articles mainly unmanufactured—
Iron ore and scrap Ton Nil Nil
Non-ferrous metalliferous ores and scrap Ton Nil Nil
Wool, raw and waste, and woollen rags '000 lbs. 5,692 297
Other raw materials Value — 1
Articles wholly or mainly manufactured—
Iron and steel and manufactures thereof—
Railway and tramway construction material of all kinds Ton 14,917 253
Other iron and steel manufactures Ton 652 64
Non-ferrous metals and manufactures thereof Value — 4
Cutlery, hardware, implements and instruments Value — 161
Electrical goods and apparatus Value — 472
Machinery—
Boilers and boiler-house plant Ton 5,089 804
Electrical machinery Ton 3,792 1,746
Machine tools Ton 451 86
Prime movers: Steam Ton 327 244
Other machinery Ton 2,278 787
Vehicles (including locomotives, ships and aircraft)—
Aeroplanes—
Complete Number Nil Nil
Engines Number 18 71
Other parts (except magnetos) Value — 28
Other vehicles Value — 4
Arms, ammunition and military and naval stores Value — Nil
All other articles Value — 364
Total, United Kingdom Exports — — 5,386
Re-exports—
Sheeps' and Lambs' wool '000 lbs. 11,412 1,855
Raw rubber, including crepe and latex '000 lbs. 448 26
Non-ferrous metals and manufactures thereof Value — Nil
All other articles Value — 547
Total, Re-exports — — 2,428

this House what are war materials and whether we have sent any to Russia?

Mr. Bottomley

His Majesty's Government know all the responsibilities involved and fully accept them.

Mr. Nutting

Will the Minister consult the legal advisers of the Foreign Office, who will give him a very good idea?

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Will the Minister consider publishing a list of the capitalist concerns which are making profits out of this?

Following is the statement: