HC Deb 27 November 1962 vol 668 cc180-3
3. Sir C. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that fish and fish preparations for the first eight months of 1962 exported to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics amounted to £307,492, whereas the imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were £1,402,277, what action he is taking to increase the amount of fish exports to Russia and so help the United Kingdom fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Green

Our bilateral trade arrangements with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are based on a comprehensive view of the advantages to be derived from the trade as a whole and there is no necessary quantitative link between the imports and exports of particular commodities. Quotas are negotiated with the Soviet authorities for the export of our fish and total sales in 1962 have so far been greater than in each of the two years ended on 30th June, 1960, and 1961.

Sir C. Osborne

While the Grimsby fishing industry is grateful for the slight improvement in exports to Russia for the last six months of this year, surely if the extra £1 million that we are spending in Russia were spent back in the Grimsby trade it would help the very hard-pressed industry? Will my hon. Friend have another look at the matter and see whether we cannot get a fairer return?

Mr. Green

I am sure my hon. Friend will appreciate that negotiations for the new Russian agreement are in progress, and it would be unwise for me to comment further.

Sir. C. Osborne

Will my hon. Friend bear it in mind?

Mr. Green

I will always bear in mind anything which is put so per-suasively by my hon. Friend.

Mr. P. Williams

In view of the surplus shipbuilding capacity avail-able in Britain, might it not be a good idea to trade in some British ships for Russian ones?

Mr. Green

That is a different question from that on the Order Paper.

13. Sir C. Osborne

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that for the first nine months of 1962 imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics amounted to £59,518,072, whereas exports from the United Kingdom to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were only £30,487,050, and re-exports £12,396,166; what action he is taking to ensure that United Kingdom exports to Russia more nearly approach imports; if he will include some consumer goods in United Kingdom export quotas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Green

My right hon. Friend is aware of the figure which my hon. Friend quotes. He would be glad to see an increase in the level of our exports to the U.S.S.R. and all the services of the Board of Trade are available to British exporters interested in selling to the Soviet Union. Quotas for British consumer goods have been in force since the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement was signed in 1959.

Sir C. Osborne

Is it not reasonable that both workers and industrialists should demand that the Government ensure that we export at least as much to the Soviet Union as it exports to us? In the last trade agreement, what proportion of consumer goods was decided upon? Since consumer goods provide more employment in this country than any other type of goods, will my hon. Friend see that more of them are included in the next trade agreement?

Mr. Green

My hon. Friend must bear in mind that even if this country has an unfavourable trade balance with the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union is also a very substantial purchaser from the sterling area. Thus, the overall trade position may indeed be slightly in our favour. We are doing our best to increase the quotas, where suitable, for British consumer goods, but I must repeat that we are in process of negotiation at the moment.

Sir C. Osborne

The balance of trade which comes from the Commonwealth and may be in favour of the sterling area does not produce employment in this country. Those Commonwealth exports to the Soviet Union are in raw materials. I am asking that more exports of consumer goods from this country to the Soviet Union should be included in the new agreement to provide jobs for our people. Will my hon. Friend look at this again?

Mr. Green

My hon. Friend will appreciate that trade is not conducted only between two parties. It may be multilateral in nature. In relation to this question, it is multilateral. The Commonwealth countries earn foreign exchange which they spend here.