§ 34. Sir L. Plummerasked the President of the Board of Trade what additional possibilities of trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the countries of Eastern Europe have been opened up as a result of the continuous review of the controls on trade with those countries.
§ Sir D. EcclesControls on trade with these countries have not recently been changed, but trade continues to expand as shown by the fact that exports have increased from less than £16 million in 1953 to over £43 million last year.
§ Sir L. PlummerDoes the President of the Board of Trade regard the figure of £43 million as a ceiling? Does he take the view that it cannot be exceeded? Is not the fact that this trade is now under constant review, to use his own words, an indication that we are not taking the necessary action needed to overcome these artificial barriers to our trade?
§ Sir D. EcclesTrade with the Soviet is showing fairly healthy expansion year by year. There are a great many goods that the Soviet can buy from us, and which I think their people would like to 361 see bought from us, and anything that we can do to assist that expansion we will do.