§ 12. Mr. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade what positive action his Department has taken, since the visit of Mr. Bulganin and Mr. Krushchev to this country, to extend trade between Great Britain and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics among the goods and items which these two statesmen suggested should be imported and exported and with what success.
§ Sir D. EcclesWe gave full publicity to the purchasing programme which the Soviet leaders proposed to us and we welcomed the Soviet mission, which came here soon afterwards. In the result some valuable orders have been secured and others are in course of negotiation. Much more trade could be done under the Soviet programme if the Soviet authorities were as interested to buy as our manufacturers are to sell.
§ Mr. LewisFrom the last part of that reply, does not it appear as though the President of the Board of Trade is not so anxious to do trade as to make jibes? Can he say something about what he proposes to do to get the Soviets to be more helpful, if they are not helpful at the moment? Is it not better to have trade than trouble with the Russians? Cannot he do something more positive?
§ Sir D. EcclesI agree with the hon. Member and I continually bring to the notice of the Soviet trade authorities here that there are many things on their list which they could buy.
§ 16. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the President of the Board of Trade when petrol and aviation spirit are to be taken off the embargo list in relation to exports to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Sir D. EcclesI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) on 12th February, when he said that the controls would be reviewed in consultation with our partners in the Paris Group. That Answer applies to the whole range of our exports covered by the strategic controls, in which petrol and aviation spirit are included.
§ Mr. FernyhoughCan the right hon. Gentleman say what has been the outcome of the meeting of the fifteen nations that has been taking place in Paris? Would not he agree that in the age of the Sputnik and the inter-continental missile, embargo lists are fantastic?
§ Sir D. EcclesThere has not yet been any outcome; the discussions are still going on. Opinions about the value of the embargo list differ between the various members of Cocom.
§ 18. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is considering for the promotion of trade between the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and China.
§ 22. Mr. Stonehouseasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to increase trade with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe normal facilities provided by my Department are available for businessmen interested to develop trade with the Soviet Union and China. Apart from strategic goods this trade depends on the willingness of the Soviet and Chinese authorities to buy from us.
§ Mr. SwinglerDo not the frustrating occurrences in this field and the general lack of development in expanding trade show the need to try to conclude trade agreements? Why is the President reluctant to try to negotiate, at official levels, trade agreements with those countries, to assist negotiations between purchasers and vendors?
§ Sir D. EcclesThere are two reasons. The first is that the other parties show no inclination to have trade agreements. Secondly, the things that we buy from them are already on the free list and, therefore, we have very little to put into a trade agreement of that kind.
§ Mr. StonehouseCan the right hon. Gentleman say what specific advice his Department is giving to manufacturers about exporting to the U.S.S.R.?
§ Sir D. EcclesWe encourage them very much to sell all they can of the goods that are on the free list.
§ Mr. JayCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in fact, trade is expanding both ways at present with Russia and with China?
§ Sir D. EcclesYes, it is.