HC Deb 01 May 1952 vol 499 cc1646-8
25. Mr. J. R. Bevins

asked the President of the Board of Trade why licences have been issued for the export of raw rubber to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for quantities of 43,371 tons during the first three months of 1952; and if he is aware that this represents 76 per cent. of the total imports of raw rubber to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from both United Kingdom and Malaya during 1951.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The policy of restriction on exports of rubber from Malaya and the United Kingdom to the U.S.S.R. was explained in my answer to my hon. Friend's Question on 20th March; and in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) on 3rd April I explained that this year's exports have included a substantial accumulation of rubber which was licensed last year but shipment of which was delayed.

Mr. Bevins

In view of the continuing high level of exports, will my right hon. Friend give the House a categorical assurance that there has been no change of policy in this matter?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I can give a complete assurance on that point.

Mr. Shinwell

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to the effect that this raw rubber is being used, at any rate partly, for armament purposes, and, if so, is not that rather opposed to the policy of Her Majesty's Government?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The amount of rubber which is being sent is the amount calculated at a normal peace-time rate. It is specifically calculated at that amount to avoid the point which the right hon. Gentleman has raised.

Mr. Shinwell

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman be a little more specific? The Board of Trade must have information—or, at least, some information—about the use to which the rubber is being put. Is any of it being used for armament purposes, and does that represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The amount of rubber that has been exported to the U.S.S.R. has been running at a rate which is precisely the same as it was under the right hon. Gentleman's own Government, the average for 1950–51–52. I have no reason to suppose that anybody in any Government can tell precisely for what any particular bit of rubber is used. I have no reason to suppose that this rubber is used for armaments. On the best evidence that we can obtain it certainly is not above their normal peace-time requirements.

Mr. Shinwell

Do I understand that Her Majesty's Government are simply following the policy of the Labour Government?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I thought the right hon. Gentleman's original point was whether we were exporting rubber for the purpose of manufacturing arms.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Would it not help the House if my right hon. Friend could indicate what proportion of Russia's total import of rubber this figure represents?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The imports of rubber for the first quarter of this year from all sources represent about one-third of the annual rate for the whole of 1950.

Mr. Nicholson

My right hon. Friend has misunderstood me. I meant how much rubber Russia has imported from all sources in the course of a year so that we can see what proportion of that this represents?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down.

Mr. Mikardo

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain, in short sharp words of four letters that even his hon. Friends can understand—

Mr. Cyril Osborne

Speak for yourself.

Mr. Mikardo

I did not put the Question down. Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how we can expect to continue to get large quantities of softwood and animal feedingstuffs from Russia if we do not send Russia anything in return?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Trade flows both ways between the countries, but it has been our policy—and I think the House generally will agree that it is right—to restrict the exports of rubber to the U.S.S.R. to what is estimated to be their normal peace-time consumption. There has been no change of policy in the matter, and that policy will be adhered to.