HC Deb 12 November 1953 vol 520 cc1124-5
19 Mr. Swingler

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if, having regard to his adherence to the policies of the Consultative Group Cooperation Committee on East-West Trade, he will state to what extent the ban on the United Kingdom export of steel and chemical products to China has been relaxed since the Korean armistice;

(2) how many applications for licences for the export of steel and chemical products to China he has received in the last three months; what types and quantities of goods were involved; and how many licences, and for what quantities and values of goods, were granted.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

There has been no relaxation of the embargo on the export from the United Kingdom to China of strategic types of steel and chemical products. I regret that it would not be possible, without an unjustifiable amount of research, to give the particulars asked for about applications for export licences.

Mr. Swingler

Will the Minister say why he is operating an embargo so much more stringent than that of any other country represented on the international committee? Has his attention been drawn to the recent Japanese-Chinese agreement for £30 million worth of trade, which provides for the export of steel plates and copper from Japan to China, while he refuses to British manufacturers licences for goods so that orders are going to France, Germany and Japan whose policies are supposed to be co-ordinated by this committee?

Mr. Thorneycroft

If the hon. Gentleman will look into the matter, he will find that we do co-ordinate our policies with other countries. They may vary from time to time, but, on the steel issue, they have been brought more closely into line more recently.

Mr. Warbey

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen that the American Government have removed no fewer than 28 categories from the Japanese banned list, and does he intend to do nothing to prevent British manufacturers being beaten to the post by the Japanese?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I certainly will look into the question which the hon. Gentleman raises, but I think he will find that, by and large, we keep very closely in line on these items with all the countries concerned.