§ 18. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals for the relaxation of the embargo on certain exports to the Soviet bloc he has made to the Consultative Group Co-ordinating Committee in the last three months.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe proposals discussed by this informal consultative body of experts, representing this country and our friends in Europe, have never been made public, but any decisions reached by Governments after discussion by the Committee are, of course, publicly announced.
§ Mr. SwinglerAs Members of the Government are now continually talking about the desirability of East-West trade by saying that we must be subject to the Paris Group, may we know whether the right hon. Gentleman has made any proposals for the relaxation of restrictions?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftIt has never been the practice of this Government, or the previous Government, to publish the proposals which are put forward by individual Governments.