HC Deb 02 February 1961 vol 633 cc1169-71
16. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken, in order to expand United Kingdom exports and increase Anglo-Soviet trade, by way of assistance to the British Trade Exhibition in Moscow; and whether he will arrange for a British week, or weeks, of activities while the exhibition is being held.

Mr. Maudling

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew) on 26th January.

As regards the second part of the Question, while I should be anxious to support any suggestion that would increase the commercial value of the Trade Fair, I do not believe that the holding of a British Week in Moscow, in so far as this would be practicable, would yield any substantial results.

Mr. Ellis Smith

Is it not the case that, as at present planned, this exhibition looks like being the biggest foreign trade exhibition ever held in the Soviet Union? In that case, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is his duty simultaneously to stimulate interest in Britain as a whole and in trade in particular while the exhibition is being held?

Mr. Maudling

We thought a good deal about this matter, but we concluded that what was important was to concentrate on trade, and in all the efforts we are making we are concentrating at this fair on increasing the amount sold by Britain to Russia. We will consider any suggestion, but I do not think that that made by the hon. Member would contribute to that end.

17. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will arrange for a large pottery exhibit in the British Trade Exhibition in Moscow, showing pottery being decorated and an exhibition of reinforced plastics and pattern-making being carried out for all requirements in the industry, the patterns being made of glass fibre reinforced plastics.

Mr. Maudling

No, Sir. My Department's exhibit at the British Trade Fair in Moscow will be a general display of recent British scientific and technical achievement. Its construction has already begun and it is not now possible to change its form.

Mr. Ellis Smith

I understand and accept that reply, but will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that his Department gets the co-operation of the pottery industry, so that we can have the best pottery exhibits in the exhibition, justifying the high skill and quality which goes into our pottery products? As so much interest has been created by pottery being decorated by girls at these exhibitions, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that similar arrangements would have a similar effect in Russia?

Mr. Maudling

There is a difficulty. I understand that the pottery manufacturers have decided not to participate because the quota which the Russians give is only £10,000 and it is thus hardly worth while putting on an expensive exhibit in Moscow. However, we shall have further negotiations about quotas for consumer goods, and I will bear the position of the pottery industry very much in mind.

23. Sir B. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade what advice or financial assistance is being given by Her Majesty's Government, in view of the urgency of obtaining new markets for United Kingdom export trade, to the organisers of the British Trade Fair to be held in Moscow in May.

Mr. Maudling

The advice of the Government Departments concerned and of Her Majesty's Embassy in Moscow has been available at all times to the organisers on the many matters on which they have consulted us. There has never been any question of their receiving financial assistance from public funds.

Sir B. Janner

In view of the real importance of this exhibition, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that financial aid should not be given to promote the exhibition in such a way as to obtain the best advantages that we can from it?

Mr. Maudling

They asked for no help. It is a very ambitious fair and I am glad to say that they have already sold all the space available.