HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 cc1877-8
6. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the President of the Board of Trade what orders have been placed with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for manganese; and if he will give the tonnage of manganese imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for each year since 1946.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

There were no imports of manganese ore or metal from Russia from 1st January, 1946, to 30th September, 1953, and no import licences have been issued for manganese metal this year. Manganese ore can be imported freely under open general licence and no application to my Department for permission to import is required.

Mr. Davies

I thank the Minister for that reply, but does he realise that he has not directly answered whether we are importing manganese or not? My information is that we are importing 100,000 tons from Russia. Am I correct?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I believe that an order has been placed, but imports will appear in the Trade Returns. So far as my responsibility is concerned, no import licence is required, because it is on open general licence.

Mr. Davies

While thanking the Minister for that second answer, may I ask him whether, in view of the fact that we are importing this highly strategic material from Russia now, it would not be wise for his Department to make every endeavour to relax embargoes and support British business men who are losing trade to their Japanese, American and German rivals in Eastern Europe and Asia?

Mr. Thorneycroft

That is a rather wider question.

Mr. Bottomley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that from 1946 to 1951 we tried to buy manganese from Russia, but without success? Russia is now prepared to sell manganese and many other commodities, and is anxious to buy consumer goods and other commodities from us. Is it not in this country's interest to develop more active trade between the two countries?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The Question deals only with manganese ore. It would not be right for me to deal here with the whole question of trade relations.