HC Deb 22 February 1955 vol 537 c1038
2. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the President of the Board of Trade the subjects which he discussed recently with trade delegations from West Germany and East Germany, respectively; and to make a statement indicating how the results of these conversations will affect British import and export trade.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The trade talks with Western Germany last December were mainly concerned with the negotiation of quotas for 1955 for the relatively small range of goods still subject to import restrictions,

There have been no discussions with any trade delegation from East Germany.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Minister not realise that there are important gaps in trade, industrial and commercial relations between this country and the two parts of Germany? Did his talks have nothing to do with this, and is he doing nothing about those gaps?

Mr. Thorneycroft

The hon. and learned Gentleman knows that we have to keep them rather separate.