§ 21. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of electrical generating equipment exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the 16 months ended 30th April, 1951, or nearest convenient period; and whether, in view of the stringency of the fuel and power supply position in the United Kingdom, he will place any restriction upon future exports of such generating equipment to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossExports to the Soviet Union of electrical generating sets and generators (including parts) amounted in 1950 to £6,078,159 and to £389,685 in the current year up till 30th April. As regards the second part of the Question, these exports to Russia have been for the most part small portable and medium size generating sets. As I informed the hon. Member for Hitchin (Mr. Fisher) on 7th May, Russian orders for the portable sets, which constituted a large proportion of these exports in 1950, were completed before the end of the year. There has 390 been adequate capacity to meet home demands for these types of equipment but we shall, naturally, continue to watch the situation.
§ Mr. NabarroIs it not suicidal to continue to export to Russia any type of generating equipment which is being used to provide power and lighting in factories which are making armaments to send to the Chinese to shoot down our own troops in Korea?
§ Sir H. ShawcrossI understand that the vast majority of the small generators which we have been supplying to Russia are used in forests in connection with the felling of timber, and I would remind the hon. Member that last year one-fifth of our total imports of timber came from the Soviet Union. We attempt to consider this matter in a proper way in the Board of Trade, and we consider that the basic and underlying problem in all this—and I apologise for the length of this answer, but there are other Questions directed to the same point—is whether, looked at either from the economic or from the strategic point of view, the advantages we get in return for these exports are at least as great as those which the Communist Powers obtain from receiving them. In our view the economic and strategic advantages which we have obtained because of the returns which we get from exporting goods of this kind are greater than those which have been obtained by the Communist countries from receiving them.
§ 25. Mr. Peter Thorneycroftasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement of the quantities of rubber exported since the beginning of this year to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ 27. Brigadier Raynerasked the President of the Board of Trade what quantity of rubber has been exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Roumania since 1st January last; and on what dates the major consignments were authorised.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossIn the period January-April, 1951, 4,061 tons of imported raw rubber were exported from the United Kingdom to the Soviet Union, 109 tons to Czechoslovakia and 84 tons to Hungary. There were no exports of raw rubber to Poland or Roumania during 391 this period. Between 9th April (when authorisation became necessary with the introduction of export licensing) and the 30th April, export licences were issued for 2,400 tons to the U.S.S.R. and 115 tons to Czechoslovakia. Not all of this was exported before the end of April. Exports of rubber during January-April this year from Malaya to the Soviet Union were 14,425 tons, and to the other countries of the Soviet bloc were 4,917 tons.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWhile recognising the difficulty and complexity of this subject and of these figures, may I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether his attention has been called to statements in the Press that there has been a very substantial increase in this type of export to the Soviet Union and to her satellite countries, and whether he would very carefully watch this position to ensure that we do not get into the same kind of trouble we did over other forms of exports some time ago?
§ Sir H. ShawcrossThe hon. Member may be assured that I am keeping a very careful watch on it. Our average exports to those countries are not increasing; they are being maintained at a level corresponding to that which existed last year. The hon. Member realises very well the complexity and the difficulty of this problem. It is a fact, as I have already said, that a fifth of our total imports of timber come from the Soviet Union, and a third of our total imports of coarse grain come from that area; and these are matters that one cannot disregard in considering what action to take.
§ Mr. James GlanvilleIs it not a fact that although some of these countries may be Communist countries they are none the less friendly Powers? [Laughter.] Yes, up to now. There is nobody at war. What would the Tories prefer—trade with Communist countries, or war? Let us know.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossI do not propose to take it upon myself to answer for hon. Members on the opposite side of the House. There are various degrees of friendship, but we are certainly not at war with the Communist countries, and I have indicated the economic reasons which lead to the necessity of continuing trade relations with them.
§ Mr. BellengerOn a point of order. Are you aware, Mr. Speaker, that only 27 Questions have been answered? Is it not possible to ask the Government Front Bench to co-operate by giving less extensive answers?
§ Mr. SpeakerI am only too well aware of that fact. I have been watching it carefully.
§ 32. Sir Arnold Gridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade how many oil engine driven electrical generating units were exported from this country to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the years 1949 and 1950; and what was the aggregate capacity thereof in kilo watts or horse-power.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossOil engine driven electrical generating units are not specified in the United Kingdom trade returns by number or capacity, but I am informed that about 4,000 sets of a total capacity of some 225,000 kilowatts were produced for export to the U.S.S.R. during the two years 1949 and 1950. The majority of these sets were of 50 kw. capacity.
§ Mr. NabarroDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that in the United Kingdom people who want these generating sets are now being quoted a 12 month delivery date and that every set used here abates the pressure on the electricity load?
§ Mr. SpeakerThis Question relates to some other country, not the United Kingdom.
§ 33. Sir A. Gridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade the number and output capacity of boilers and alternators for power stations exported from Britain to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossComplete figures of the number and output capacity of boilers and alternators for power stations exported to the U.S.S.R. during 1948, 1949 and 1950 are not available, but it is known that 52 alternators of various types, with a total rate of output of approximately 250,000 kW in 1948 and 1949 and one turbo alternator set of 25,000 kW in 1950, were delivered under the war-time Civil Supplies Agreement. In addition, 24 500 kW steam driven generating sets with boilers and 30 240 393 kW steam driven generating sets without boilers were delivered to the U.S.S.R. during 1949 and 1950.
§ 34. Sir A. Gridleyasked the President of the Board of Trade the value of all electrical machinery exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for each of the years 1948, 1949 and 1950.
§ Sir H. ShawcrossThe total value of United Kingdom exports of electrical machinery to the Soviet Union during each of the years 1948, 1949 and 1950 was £2,186,000, £4,975,000 and £6,822,000 respectively.