§ 19. Sir L. Plummerasked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the average monthly value of British exports to East Germany which is being lost as a result of a refusal of travel documents to East German buyers and their representatives who wish to come here to negotiate and place orders.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Reginald Maudling)None, Sir. It is questionable whether in fact any trade has been lost. East German businessmen are, of course, no longer prevented from visiting the United Kingdom.
§ Sir L. PlummerIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that, when the allied travel bureau refused to give permission to East German buyers and other businessmen to come to this country to place their orders, those gentlemen went to West Germany to place their orders, because 'the West German Government have no objection to trading with the 321 East German Government, despite their ideological differences? Should we not be considering our trade and not be concerning ourselves so much with the quarrel between East and West Germany?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe facts I have do not support the hon. Gentleman's contention. Our exports to East Germany last year were nearly double what they were in 1959 and there was no sign of any decrease in the latter part of the year.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman say that the allied travel bureau in West Berlin places no obstacle in the way of obtaining the facilities required to travel to this country? Are not restrictions still in operation?
§ Mr. MaudlingPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman did not see the Answer to a Question yesterday concerning restrictions. My point is that, whatever the nature of the restrictions, they have not affected our trade.