§ 27. Mr. Collinsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will review the present restrictions on trade with China; and if, in particular, he will lift the present restrictions on the sale of new and second-hand civilian aeroplanes.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay) on 12th November, 1957.
As to the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade gave to the hon. Member on 12th December, 1957.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the Joint Under-Secretary aware that the reply from the President of the Board of Trade, whilst admitting the charge, did not promise to do anything about it? Is he further aware that other N.A.T.O. countries are still selling prohibited goods to China and to other Communist countries? Does he not think it is time that he looked into the matter and took positive steps to see that British traders no longer suffer these handicaps as compared with our foreign competitors?
§ Mr. HarveyI do not admit that there is any question of a charge arising out of this. As I have already said, this is a question that is regularly reviewed, and that is the position at the moment.