HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 cc1263-4
23. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further progress has been made drastically to reduce the embargo on various exports to China.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

On the substance of the Question. I have nothing to add to the reply given on 29th October to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-lyme (Mr. Swingler) by the then Minister of State. As was foreshadowed in the House on 14th May, more use has been made of the exceptions procedure to permit reasonable exports in appropriate cases to China of goods which are not on the Soviet lists.

Mr. Davies

While appreciating that answer, may I ask whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman is not aware that because of the devastating economic and physical position in the Middle East, we have lost a market of about £150 million a year, and that if we could get rid of Cocom in Paris we could now gain some markets in China? Does he not feel that the time has come to look anew at the whole Asiatic world in view of the disastrous position in which this country has now been placed in regard to Asia through the Suez activities of this Government?

Mr. Lloyd

The hon. Member will not, of course, expect me to agree with the last part of his supplementary question. In this matter we have to try to act with our allies. I think it is better to try to make progress in terms of individual articles or individual transactions, and if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind I shall be very glad to ask my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to consider it.

Mr. Bevan

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman consider, between now and when the House reassembles after the Recess, presenting the House with a White Paper on this matter, to give us a clearer picture of the situation? Does he realise that there are a large number of business people in this country who feel that very much more trade can be done with China and that, now that the Chinese Government have decided that they cannot proceed with the intensification of industrialisation as quickly as formerly, there will be a larger market for consumer goods that we could provide? Ought we therefore not to consider this matter realistically and with a considerable sense of urgency?

Mr. Lloyd

I will certainly consider the right hon. Gentleman's suggestion. It might well be that such a White Paper would be valuable.

Mr. Dudley Williams

Will the Minister bear in mind that there are a considerable number of people on both sides of the House who think that we can greatly increase our trade with China and who think that if we are not very careful we shall find that this large trading unit has become another department of the trading unit of the United States? Will my right hon. and learned Friend do everything he can to ensure that we get an adequate slice of any trade that arises?

Mr. Lloyd

I can assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I have very much in mind the consideration which he raises. We are, of course, constantly enjoined in these matters to act in consultation with our allies. That we have been doing. In fact, the matter has been put very forcibly to some of our allies more than once during the last few months.