HC Deb 28 April 1960 vol 622 cc368-9
16. Mr. Swingler

asked the President of the Board of Trade when negotiations on trade with Poland in 1960 will be resumed.

Mr. Maudling

I hope it will be within the next few weeks.

Mr. Swingler

What is holding up the negotiations? Is it not a fact that they started to run at Christmas-time and that there has been a long delay? Is the Minister aware that several million £s worth of very important industrial orders are involved and that these would mean many jobs for workers in concerns like English Electric? Could he not expedite these negotiations?

Mr. Maudling

I agree that they are very important negotiations. The point is that we have a temporary arrangement to carry on until the middle of this year. The new arrangements will determine the pattern of trade as from 1st July. Therefore, it is important to start them in the immediate future.

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