§ 40. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the President of the Board of Trade what advice he is giving, pending the determination of quotas, to British firms wishing to accept orders from China for goods on the quantitative control list.
§ 51 Mr. Rankinasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) to what extent the export quotas for goods on the quantitative control list for China, now being considered by the Paris Consultative Group, will be additional to those already applicable to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the countries of the Eastern bloc;
(2) if he will now define precisely the extent to which the global quotas for goods on the quantitative control list for China will represent a total quota to be shared by all countries which are members of the Consultative Group; and what safeguards he intends to introduce to ensure that the interests of British exporters are fully protected;
(3) if he expects to be in a position to report to the House on the recommendations made by the Paris Consultative Group to member Governments on the subject of export quotas for goods on the quantitative control list for China before the House rises for the summer Recess.
§ Sir D. EcclesWith permission I will answer this Question and Nos. 51, 52 and 53 together.
§ Mr. RankinSurely the President is not claiming that Question No. 40 is of the same type in any way as Questions 51, 52 and 53?
§ Sir D. EcclesI think that when the hon. Gentleman hears my Answer he will see that it covers the point.
The quotas for China will be additional to those already applicable to trade with the countries of Eastern Europe.
As I informed the hon. Member for Govan (Mr. Rankin) on 4th July, recommendations as to these quotas are due 1334 to be made in the near future by the Paris Consultative Group. Our exporters' interests are looked after by our representatives on the Group.
The recommendations of the Group and the amounts of the quotas will be confidential. Exporters wishing to accept orders for goods on the quantitative control list should submit applications to the export licensing branch.
§ Mr. AllaunIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that British firms are losing Chinese orders, particularly the largest orders for machine tools, turbo-generators and roller bearings, because they cannot state what quantity they may export? What is he doing about this?
§ Sir D. EcclesAll the countries of the Group are in the same position and I hope that before the end of the month we shall have the recommendations for these quotas.
§ Mr. RankinIf I followed the right hon. Gentleman correctly, he did not answer the last part of Question 53 in which I asked him if there would be a statement before the House rises for the summer Recess. Can he say anything about that? Further, in the allocation of these quotas, can he tell us why it is that the United States of America, which is doing no trade at all with China, should have a voice in deciding the amount of trading that we are to do with China?
§ Sir D. EcclesIf the Group does make recommendations before the end of the month I shall be in a position to make a statement. As to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, we work together with the United States in examining and checking on these controls, and I see no reason at all why we should not keep together.
§ Mr. RankinMay I take it that the presence of the United States on Cocom indicates that the United States will share in the quotas and is ready now to trade with China?
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir.