§ 30. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the further relaxation of strategic controls on trade with the Communist States, with special reference to the propects of expanding United Kingdom trade.
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe controls are kept under regular review by the Paris Group, and if scope is found for them further changes may be made from time to time. Since the substantial relaxations made last August, there is ample scope for an increasing trade which I am anxious to promote.
§ Mr. SwinglerHas the hon. Gentleman noticed a statement by the Foreign Secretary a couple of days ago that the time was ripe for a great expansion of Anglo-Soviet trade? May I ask him whether that statement was made with Board of Trade approval, and if so, does it mean that the Board of Trade is now going to make some proposals for a big expansion of trade, and does that mean further modifications of controls?
§ Mr. RodgersThe list of further amendments to the embargo list was 993 published quite recently in the Board of Trade Journal for 2nd January. I do not think I can go beyond that.