§ 10. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the trade offer from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to exchange Soviet matches for British textiles.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo such offer has been made by the Soviet Government, but my Department are in touch with the Soviet trade delegation in London about a proposal of this kind on which the Department have been approached.
§ Mr. SwinglerCan the Minister indicate the nature of the proposal? Were not quantities of these goods imported before the war, and is not the Soviet Union prepared to sell them to us now and to spend the money on British textiles, and have they not been offered at a price below that of the products of the British Match Corporation? In view of the Minister's policy of fostering competition against the British Match Corporation, will he consider this suggestion swiftly?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe approach was made by a private trading organisation in this country, and I do not think that I should disclose the details of it at this stage while we are still in negotiation with the Soviet trade delegation; but we are following it up to see what can be done.
Mr. H. WilsonSince the proposed arrangement will involve an expansion of the market for British textiles, and since it will also give us a very good opportunity of breaking down the monopoly of the British Match Corporation, will the right hon. Gentleman dispel some of the rumours to the effect that the Board of Trade have been very negative in their attitude towards the proposed arrangements?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe Board of Trade have not been at all negative about this or any other matter. We had an inquiry in the ordinary course, and we are discussing certain aspects of it with the Soviet trade delegation at the moment.