HC Deb 16 February 1954 vol 523 cc1809-10
42. Mr. H. Wilson

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has seen the official pronouncement of the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade about proposals to import £400 million-worth of equipment from the United Kingdom; and if, following the list of items specified in that statement, he is in a position to make any estimate of the proportion of this figure represented by items controlled on strategic grounds.

Mr. Amory

Yes, Sir, and my right hon. Friend has studied it with much interest. The list is not sufficiently specific for me to calculate exactly how much of the business proposed would be in items subject to strategic controls. But, as a very rough estimate, I should think that rather less than half of the business, perhaps up to a value of 2,000 million roubles, would be found to be free from these controls. At the official rate of exchange, which the right hon. Gentleman has used, this would amount to some £175 or £180 million.

Mr. Wilson

Would the right hon. Gentleman make it his business to have discussions with the British businessmen who have been to Moscow, I think with the Government's approval, and have now returned? Following those discussions, will he look at the strategic list to make sure that, whilst we have complete control over all goods of military value, the list is pruned of any goods that can now be quite safely supplied?

Mr. Amory

We are very much looking forward to meeting these businessmen on their return and discussing their experiences with them. So far it seems to have been a most useful visit. As regards the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, the strategic list is under frequent consideration by the Government.

Mr. Wilson

On a point of order. Questions No. 84 and No. 85, in my name, and Question No. 82 in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkdale (Mr. Keenan) were put down for answer today by the right hon. Gentleman as representing the Board of Trade. We heard this morning that he had transferred them from himself to himself in another capacity, with the result that we do not get an answer orally today. In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman is obviously here, and thatby statute both the Ministry of Materials and the Board of Trade are jointly responsible for these Questions, would it not have been possible for the right hon. Gentleman, while here, to have answered those Questions?

Mr. Speaker

That is a little too complicated for me. I cannot follow it.