HC Deb 18 July 1957 vol 573 cc1330-1
31 and 32. Sir L. Plummer

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what assistance is being given to British manufacturers desirous of trading with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to enable them to accept orders from outside the planned sector of the Soviet economy;

(2) what assistance is being given to British manufacturers desiring to trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to distinguish between orders placed outside the Soviet planned economy, and those offered from within the planned economy.

Sir D. Eccles

There may be some misunderstanding. My right hon. Friend suggested in his letter to Mr. Bulganin that Soviet trading agencies might be given more freedom to place orders for goods for which no specific provision had been made in their planning. But this would not involve any question of placing orders outside the Soviet planned economy and British manufacturers would not be called upon to make the kind of distinction the hon. Member suggests.

Sir L. Plummer

Can the President put it to his right hon. Friend that it is ludicrous to establish such a prerequisite for trade with the Soviet Union? Would he break it gently to the Prime Minister that the Soviet Union economy is a controlled economy and that the British trader is not concerned with whether he is selling inside or outside a planned economy? What he wants to do is to trade with Russia.

Sir D. Eccles

I think that is well understood. My right hon. Friend had in mind an increase in consumer goods which were not on the lists which were exchanged when Mr. Bulganin came here.

33. Mr. Jay

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government are now operating the procedure for making exceptions to the strategic embargo on United Kingdom exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Sir D. Eccles

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the Answer given on 13th May by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Lewis).

Mr. Jay

Is it not a fact that the exceptions procedure applies to trade with the whole Soviet bloc and China?

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, Sir.