§ 21. Mr. Jayasked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the goods in the Soviet purchasing programme presented to the Government by Mr. Malyshev during his 1956 visit are subject to the strategic embargo; and what is the total value of United Kingdom exports thus held back.
§ Sir D. EcclesIt is estimated that between a third and a half of the goods in the Soviet purchasing programme are subject to the strategic embargo. I am not in a position to answer the second part of the Question.
§ Mr. JayDoes not the President think that this embargo has become largely obsolete, and can he at least assure us that this matter is to be raised in the Bermuda conversations?
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. I should not have thought that the embargo was obsolete, and I have no idea whether it is to be raised or not.
§ 27. Sir L. Plummerasked the President of the Board of Trade what trade agreements he proposes to make with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the provision of non-dollar oil, newsprint and timber.
§ Sir D. EcclesNone, Sir. These are matters for private commercial negotiation.
§ Sir L. PlummerWill not the President move in step with our French Allies who, last month, negotiated a treaty with the Soviet Union for the supply of goods of 536 this kind, valued at about £200 million? Why, if we can get these goods from the Soviet Union and other Soviet bloc countries, do we constantly turn our faces against them?
§ D. EcclesWe are not turning our faces against them. Imports of many of the main articles supplied by Russia come in free. Anyone who wants to can buy them.